Rey Anthony H. Chiu
TAGBILARAN
CITY, July 28 (PIA) -- Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP-7) and
the Bohol District Jail (BDJ) launched another innovation in the form of its
Senior Citizen Program at the BJMP-managed provincial jail.
In another pioneering step in the region, BJMP launched July 28 its Senior Citizen Program in Jail in the hope of finally attending to and giving aging inmates the rights and privileges duly accorded for senior citizens.
BDJ in Bohol earlier also made a name for establishing the TB Directly Observed Treatment Short-course in Jail, a Stop Tuberculosis strategy, as the country battles TB which is among its commitments to the millennium development goals.
JCInspector Jose Rusylvi Abueva, who just picked the Best Provincial Jail Administrator Award a few days ago, explained to the aging inmates at the BDJ that while still committed at the facility, the jail would assist its senior citizens inmates in getting the membership they would need so they can start getting the mandatory benefits accorded for them by law.
Bohol Chapter President of the Federation of Senior Citizens Associations of the Philippines Melchor Daniel, who was the guest of honor during the event, explained to the inmates the help that being a card-holder can get.
By using Republic Act 9994 or the Expanded Senior Citizens Act, he told the 21 inmates over 60 years old who were gathered at the BDJ Social Hall that the Senior Citizens Law is afforded to all Filipinos over 60 and listed in the database for senior citizens for him to get an identification card which forms as the official proof.
Card bearing senior citizens can enjoy 20% discounts on basic commodities for the sole enjoyment of the elderly, medicine purchases, medical dental professional fees, laboratory and diagnostics, actual fare for and transportation, domestic air and sea travel, stay in hotels and lodging establishments, restaurants, admission fees in theaters and even funeral benefits.
The catch however, is that members should be able to show the identification card as proof for the discount, Daniel said, adding that inmates need to fill up registration forms available from the municipalities where they are from.
BJMP, which also designated Wednesdays as Senior Citizens Days at the BDJ, said they would coordinate with the municipal social welfare and development officers to facilitate the quick registration so that elderly inmates can start getting discounts on medicine purchases.
On that same day, BJMP Health Services Unit Head Dr. Priscilliana Gilboy came in with nurses and psychologist from Cebu to administer the senior citizen's pneumococcal vaccine shots and performed medical consultations as well as organized games for the elderly. (rmn/rac/PIA7-Bohol)