HOUSE Deputy Majority Leader Erwin Tulfo announced on Tuesday that a bill seeking employment for senior citizens is now approved in the committee level of the House of Representatives.

In a statement, Tulfo, one of the principal authors of the “Employment Opportunities for Senior Citizen and Private Entities’ Incentives Act,” stated that the said bill was approved in the House Committee on Ways and Means chaired by Albay Rep. Joey Salceda.

“This legislation goes beyond just creating jobs. It fosters social inclusion, keeps seniors mentally and physically stimulated, and contributes to their financial security,” Tulfo said in his sponsorship remarks.

“For companies, employing senior citizens can bring stability, loyalty, and wealth of experience to the workplace. Senior citizens often require less training and can serve as mentors to younger colleagues,” the lawmaker added.

For his part, Salceda said it took Congress at least 32 years to harmonize the same benefits of employment opportunities given to person with disabilities (PWD). If the bill becomes law, senior citizens will have the same employment opportunities as PWD.

“It took us 32 years to equalize (this bill). Congratulations to the hardworking senior citizens advocates,” Salceda said, referring to the authors of the said bill.

Apart from Tulfo, among the authors of the said bill were his colleagues from the ACT-CIS partylist Reps. Edvic Yap and Jocelyn Tulfo, Reps. Eric Yap, Ralph Wendel Tulfo, Rodolfo Ordanes, Eduardo Villanueva, Sittie Shahara Mastura, Florida Robes, Alfred Delos Santos, Stella Luz Quimbo, Paolo Duterte, Ernesto Dionisio Jr., Maria Rachel Arenas, Rosanna Vergara, Salvado Pleyto, Rachel Marguerite Del Mar, Emerson Pascual, Loreto Amante, and Milagros Aquino Magsaysay.

Under the bill, senior citizens who have the capacity and desire to work, or be re- employed, shall be provided information and matching services of available job opportunities by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), through the public employment service offices, to enable them to be productive members of society.

“All government agencies and private entities shall institute an employment program that shall promote the general well-being of senior citizens and ensure access to employment opportunities to those who have the qualifications, capacity, and interest to be employed,” the bill said.

Tulfo said, the bill creates a win-win situation for both senior citizens and private companies.

“It also incentivizes companies to hire senior citizens by offering a significant tax reduction — 25 percent of the total amount paid as salaries, wages, benefits and training provided to senior citizen employees,” Tulfo noted.

Meanwhile, Atty. Franklin Quijano, of the National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC) thanked the lawmakers for the said bill saying that some employers are now starting to cooperate even as the bill is still pending before the Congress.

“Employers are now giving attention to senior citizens. One, of course, is KFC. But obviously, KFC, because the owner became the owner during the time when he was senior citizen. So, he’d like to pay it forward,” Quijano said.

“But recently, the two malls approached us, ensured interest, and actually are formulating their policies for employing senior citizens. I’m referring to SM and Robinsons,” he also said adding that there are some gasoline stations who are now thinking of employing senior citizens.