At the resumption of the hearing of the Committee on Ways and Tulfo aired the proposal during the resumption of the hearing of the Committee on Ways and Means.

Chaired by Albay Rep. Joey Salceda, the House panel is conducting a moto propio investigation on the repeated violations of the discount privileges granted by law to senior citizens and persons with disabilities.

“I think we have to do away with the booklet because this is useless,” Tulfo declared.

“Pangalawa sir, this is an insult to all the senior citizens kasi parang tinitingnan ng mga merchants ng mga business establishment na mga manloloko ang mga senior citizen natin kaya they have to own a booklet,” he explained.

Aside from senior citizens identification cards, drug stores, supermarkets, and other business establishments require senior citizens and PWDs to present purchase booklets for them to be granted discounts for their purchases.

Tulfo noted that many among the elderly tend to forget their booklet and are denied discounts provided under the law.

“Mayroon ngang nai-issue na booklet pero hindi nila nadadala because of the “senior moments” that is the problem pagdating nila ng cashier sasabihin na kailangan ng booklet,” he pointed out.

Rep. Milagros Aquino-Magsaysay, of United Senior Citizens partylist, agreed with Tulfo’s suggestion to abolish the booklet requirement.

“I find it useless na ipakita ang booklet. Bakit pa kailangang ipakita kung ano purchase mo. Useless ang booklet,” the lady solon said.

For his part, Rep. Salceda who also agree with Tulfo’s manifestation to scrap the booklets for senior citizens, also manifested that Tulfo will be added as member of the technical working group (TWG) crafting a new law for senior citizens.

“I agree (with Cong. Erwin Tulfo), with that, we will increase the membership of the TWG crafting the new law on senior citizens and PWDs. Rep. Erwin can join anytime with the TWG that is writing the new law.