BAGUIO CITY – City officials recently requested Rep. Mark Go to initiate the necessary amendments of the implementing rules and regulations of Republic Act (RA) 9994 otherwise known as the Expanded Senior Citizens Act and Department of Health (DOH) Administrative Order No. 2010-0032 issued on October 9, 2010 on the sale of medicines to senior citizens, particularly on the mandatory use of the purchase booklet to make it optional when availing medicines and goods from concerned business establishments.
Under Resolution No. 490, series of 2023, local legislators stated that the Committee on Social services, Women and Urban Poor, in its 2nd indorsement dated July 25, 2023, submitted its report and recommendation stating that during the July 10, 2023 regular session, it was suggested by the members of the body that the use of the senior citizens purchase booklet issued by the Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) under the City Social Welfare and Development Office should be optional instead of mandatory when purchasing medicines in all hospitals and private retail pharmacies.
Upon review however of the implementing rules and regulations of RA 9994, it is a requirement that having a purchase booklet to avail of the prescribed senior citizens discount is mandatory per DOH rules and guidelines.
The body stipulated that it does not have the power to amend or void the implementing rules and regulations issued by the health department, thus, the ultimate remedy is for Congress to introduce the needed amendments to the same to make the use of the purchase booklet optional when purchasing medicines and goods.
Earlier, some members of the local legislative body during the aforesaid regular session requested Congressman Go to cause the amendment of the implementing rules and regulations of RA 9994 otherwise known as the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010 regarding the optional use of senior citizens purchase booklet in buying medicines or goods from various establishments inside and outside the city.
Copies of the approved resolution will be forwarded to the Office of Congressman Go for his information, guidance, ready reference and further needed action.