Senior citizens of Laguna back Loren Legarda’s Senate bid

By: Dennis Gutierrez - 3 years ago

Laguna Senior Citizen Association (LASCA) assembly at Intramuros Manila, on Tuesday, April 19.

MANILA, Philippines — The Laguna Federation of Senior Citizens Associate (LASCA) expressed its support for three-term Senator Loren Legarda’s Senate comeback.

LASCA president Leticia Cabiedes cited that Legarda is the best choice to lead the Senate, given her experience, competence, and strong solidarity with her colleagues in the Senate.

“We are firmly convinced that Senator Loren Legarda is imbued with the leadership qualities to steer and unite the entire Senate in order to safeguard the country’s economic gains and social progress, specifically in the Senior Citizen’s Charter in the Province of Laguna,” Cabiedes said.

Legarda, whose great grandfather Potenciano Cabrera once served as Mayor of San Pablo City, Laguna, thanked the association and stated that she is honored to be endorsed by approximately 48,000 members.

“Nais kong iparating ang aking buong pusong pasasalamat sa samahan ng mga senior citizen ng Probinsya ng Laguna sa inyong suporta at pag endorso. Isang malaking karangalan ang tiwala na inyong ibinibigay sa aking kakayahan na kayo ay patuloy na paglingkuran,” Legarda said.

As principal author of the Expanded Senior Citizens Act and co-author of the amended version, Legarda calls for stronger implementation of the law so that senior citizens may enjoy the additional benefits and privileges provided to them, such as free vaccination against influenza virus and other pneumococcal diseases, value-added tax exemption on the sale of goods and services in all establishments and a 20-percent discount on the purchase of medicines; medical and dental services; diagnostics and laboratory fees, among others.

“The law was created as a tribute to our elders who have given much to this country with their hard work throughout their productive years,” Legarda said.

The Antique Congresswoman also pledged to empower and enable the senior citizens by giving them access to government programs and resources for income-generating opportunities, including the Department of Labor and Employment’s Pangkabuhayan Program and the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP).

Legarda further assures LASCA that she will continue to support the association and more senior citizens by ensuring that they receive the benefits they deserve.

“Ang ating mga senior citizens ay patuloy na may mahalagang papel sa ating nation-building kaya akin ding isinusulong na kayo ay magkaroon ng pantay na oportunidad sa mga programa nating pangkabuhayan bilang dagdag tulong sa inyong pang araw-araw na gastusin,” she added.