Comelec, agencies told to assist seniors, PWDs

Two resolutions will be submitted to the Provincial Board (PB) in its session tomorrow asking three national government agencies to attend to the concerns of persons with disabilities and senior citizens.

PB Member Arleigh Sitoy said he will ask the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to issue a resolution providing special polling places for persons with disabilities (PWDs) and senior citizens during elections.

Sitoy said that the special polling places will complement the provisions of Republic Act 7277 or the Magna Carta for Persons with Disability and Republic Act 9257 or the Expanded Seniors Citizens Act of 2003.

He said express lanes must be provided for both senior citizens and persons with disabilities in all commercial and government establishments.

He said these measures were needed “not only  to help ease the volume of people during the voting and registration process but also to encourage the citizenry to exercise their right to vote,”

Sitoy will also request the Departments of Health (DOH)  and Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to intensify their monitoring of drugstores in the province which don’t give discounts for medicine purchases of persons with disabilities.

Sitoy said his office received reports that PWDs were refused discounts by drug stores on their purchases.

RA 7277 provides at least 20 percent discount for the purchase of medicines in all drugstores for persons with disabilities.

“The DOH and the DSWD is in the best position to enforce the Magna Carta of the persons with disabilities since they are the agencies mandated to grant permits to operate,” Sitoy said. Correspondent Carmel Loise Matus