Lacson, Sotto to push for skills-matching program for seniors, PWDs

TUGUEGARAO, Cagayan — Presidential candidate Panfilo Lacson and vice presidential bet Vicente Sotto III vowed to establish a “skills-matching” program to provide more opportunities to senior citizens and persons with disability, should they be elected in the May 9 elections.

During their consultative meeting at Tuguegarao City People’s Gym, Lacson and Sotto were asked by a senior citizen about their plans to provide better social services for the elderly.

According to Evelyn, before they could get their pension from the government, they undergo a “rigid screening.”

“Is this the way you treat the senior citizens of the Philippines?” the lawmakers were asked.

In response, Sotto said should they win in the upcoming polls, they will ensure the timely release of the senior citizens’ pension.

A pension increase is also possible under the Lacson administration, Sotto added.

The lawmaker then mentioned the skills-matching program which they will establish not only for the senior citizens but also for the PWDs.

“Kami ang programa namin ay skills-matching proposal. Ang ibig sabihin, para sa seniors, para sa mga PWDs, kung gusto mo magkatrabaho, kung anong kaya mong gawin, dapat ibigay sa’yo ang trabaho. Walang diskirminasyon,” Sotto said.

(Our proposal includes a skills-matching program. This means all seniors, PWDs will be given work. There will be no discrimination.)

This was echoed by Lacson, saying their program is “strategic” as this will be implemented along with the digitalization of government transactions as well as the National ID System.

He said each individual’s information, including their set of skills, will be indicated in their National ID.

Lacson said because of the National ID System, there will be no pre-judgment of the capabilities of the senior citizens and the PWDs.

“Hindi magkakaroon ng diskriminasyon... Kapag ang [Human Resource] nakita na iika-ika, baka hindi pansinin. Sasabihin hindi makaka-move ito, PWD ito o di kaya matanda ito, baka mamaya magkasakit, malugi pa ang negosyo,” Lacson noted.

(There will be no discrimination... The HR department usually ignores those who can't walk straight. In their mind, a PWD can't move easily or the business might be disadvantaged if they hire senior citizens.)

“Kung digitalized tayo, hindi mangyayari ito. Ang titingnan lang ay kung ano ang skill na nag-aaply sa isang tao. So maski senior citizen at disabled na may special skills, hindi made-deprive,” he explained.

(This will no longer happen if we are digitalized. We will look at the skills that would apply to a person. So even if you are a senior citizen or a disabled person who has special skills, you won't be deprived.)

Moreover, Sotto said he favors a P1,000 minimum wage amid the continuous increase of goods due to the recent fuel price hikes.

If i had my way, in these times, the minimum wage should be pegged at 1k.

— Tito Sotto (@sotto_tito) March 14, 2022

“If it were up to me, in these trying times, dapat ang minimum wage is [the minimum wage should be] P1,000,” Sotto said in an ambush interview.

The lawmaker’s suggestion was consistent with the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines’ petition before the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board of Metro Manila, seeking the hike of daily minimum wage from P537 to P1,007.

For his part, Lacson reiterated that the minimum wage of workers across the country should be based on the cost of living in every region.

Lacson and Sotto visited Tuguegarao City on Tuesday and conducted a consultative meeting with various stakeholders.

Prior to their meeting, the tandem paid a courtesy call on Tuguegarao City Mayor Jefferson Soriano. Soriano is a member of the Nationalist People's Coalition which is chaired by Sotto.

Cagayan, considered part of the so-called "Solid North," has 760,234 registered voters for Eleksyon 2022, including 94,019 in Tuguegarao. — BM, GMA News