Calling it an "economic relief" for indigent senior citizens, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) lauded the enactment into law of Republic Act No. 11916 or the Social Pension for Indigent Seniors Act that would increase the monthly pension from P500 to P1,000.
CHR Executive Director Jacqueline Ann de Guia said the new law is an "important legislative development" that guarantees that the country's elderly get to enjoy adequate standard of living and participation.
Aside from doubling their monthly pension, the law will also make sure that the amount is adjusted every two years depending on the needs of the qualified senior citizens and the approval of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), De Guia, a lawyer, said.
"This will help indigent older persons to better afford basic necessities and sustenance for their health and well-being amid inevitable economic changes," De Guia said.
"Tax incentives will also be given to employers that hire capable senior citizens. This increases their chances of employment and helps to address workplace discrimination towards their age group,” she said.
The CHR has expressed hope for the "efficient, transparent, and swift" execution of the law so that indigent seniors will be able to make ends meet despite the hardships brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic and inflation, she also said.
The CHR, she said, has been pointing out: “It is the obligation of the State to guarantee that all senior citizens in the country are living a dignified life. The passage of this law is a concrete way to honor the contributions of the elderly persons in our society. Easing their financial concerns helps to lighten their practical daily life so they may better enjoy their advance years."
For its part, the CHR will continue to work closely with related government offices in advocating for and monitoring the uninterrupted exercise of the rights by the elderly, she added.