Courtesy: Vera files
THE House of Representatives approved on third and final reading on Monday the proposed Act providing for early voting by qualified senior citizens, persons with disabilities (PWDs), lawyers, and human resources for health in national and local elections.
Garnering an overwhelming 259 affirmative votes during the plenary session was House Bill (HB) No. 7576, which was a consolidation of 15 separate measures filed in the current 19th Congress.
Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez hailed the progress of the measure which, if enacted, would benefit disadvantaged sectors as well as those that render indispensable services to Filipinos.
“By default, senior citizens and PWDs encounter more difficulty in the electoral process. They deserve more assistance in the language of the law and HB No.7576 provides them with this in the form of voting early and separate from the vast majority of Filipinos,” Romualdez said.
“On the other hand, our lawyers and human resource for health perform duties of great urgency and impact on other citizens. As such, the benefit of early voting for them is both deserved and called for,” he explained.
Under HB No. 7576, it is declared the policy of the State to make voting convenient for senior citizens, persons with disabilities (PWDs), lawyers, and human resources for health by giving them the option to vote earlier than the date set for the elections.
“In consideration of their respective physical and health conditions, senior citizens and PWDs shall be allowed to vote early in national and local elections,” read Section 2 of the measure.
“Similarly, in consideration of the necessity of providing professional services and ensuring the health and safety of the populace during election day, lawyers and human resources for health, respectively, shall be allowed to vote early in national and local elections,” it added.
Authors of the 15 measures consolidated into HB 7576 include the following: Negros Oriental 4th District Rep. Juliet Marie de Leon Ferrer, Cagayan de Oro 2nd District Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, Quezon 4th District Rep. Keith Micah “Atty. Mike” D.L. Tan, Sultan Kudarat 2nd District Rep. Horacio Suansing, Jr., Nueva Ecija 1st District Rep. Mikaela Angela Suansing, Senior Citizens Party List Rep. Rodolfo “Ompong” Ordanes, Northern Samar 2nd District Rep. Harris Christopher Ongchuan, 4PS Party List Rep. Jonathan Clement Abalos II, Ang Probinsyano Party List Rep. Alfred Delos Santos, Pangasinan 6th District Rep. Marlyn Primicias-Agabas, Davao del Norte 1st District Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez, Cavite 1st District Rep. Ramon Jolo Revilla III, Cavite 2nd District Rep. Lani Mercado-Revilla, Agimat Party List Rep. Brian Revilla, and Probinsyano Ako Party List Rep. Rudys Cesar Fariñas.
