Amid its admission that the government stands to lose P.5 billion to P1.3 billion once the proposed Expanded Senior Citizens Act is implemented, Malacañang asked Congress on Monday to immediately submit the proposal so that President Arroyo could act on the priority bill.

Deputy Presidential Spokesman Gary Olivar said some 1,500 senior citizens who flocked to Malacañang Palace to seek the immediate signing of the bill should instead press the leaders of Congress to transmit the proposal to the President as soon as possible.

“Priority naman talaga ito dahil siyempre nakataya dito ang mga seniors. Importante sa atin ito lahat, lalo na kay Pangulo, na senior na rin, yung kapakanan ng ating mga seniors. Kaya lang, we need to see the bill. Please send the bill, now na,” he said during a press briefing.

While considering the proposed Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010 – which would allow senior citizens to fully enjoy a 20 percent discount on all essential goods and services – as a “priority” measure, Mrs. Arroyo is still weighing the pros and cons of the bill, Olivar said.

“Once the president receives this bill, she will give the appropriate consideration and I believe she will make a decision quickly and expediently kasi matagal na ito. I believe she will decide quickly, but we need to have the bill already in front of her,” he said.