Camarines Sur 2nd district Rep. LRay Villafuerte is crossing his fingers that the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) would be able to source funds for the 100 percent increase in the monthly pension of indigent senior citizens. “In the face of the still elevated inflation, the doubling of the P500 monthly pension of our indigent elderly Filipinos to P1,000, as provided for in a new law, will spell added financial relief for these seniors who have to contend with the endlessly spiralling cost of living,” Villafuerte said in a statement Sunday, April 2. The National Unity Party (NUP) president was referring to Republic Act (RA) No.11916, which was enacted on July 30, 2022. The Bicolano said the law, which he was a lead proponent of, shouldn't "end up being a great but unfunded program for the benefit of our indigent seniors who are in dire need of state subsidies". Such subsidy would help the sector cope with incessantly soaring prices of basic commodities and recover economic difficulties caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, he said. The law is expected to benefit over four million poor elderly Filipinos. RA No.11916 amended RA No.7432, which provided for a universal social pension for elderly Filipinos; and RA No.9994, which granted additional benefits and privileges to these senior citizens. Villafuerte expressed hope that "The DBM would be able to scour the 2023 GAA (General Appropriations Act) and other possible sources for enough funds to bankroll the 100 percent increase in the monthly pension of  indigent seniors, in the same way that the department had managed to ferret out a sufficient outlay to finance Malacañan Palace’s extended targeted cash transfer (TCT)  project for the poorest families". The Palace’s economic managers earlier said the government was set to distribute this month P9.3 billion worth of cash assistance under this extended TCT project to 9.3 million households considered most vulnerable to the economic shock of the still elevated inflation, driven mainly by  the rocketing prices of certain foodstuff and the high cost of fuel in the global market. “Legislated measures have been provided by the State to  help guarantee the safety and security of our senior citizens, but, unfortunately, most of them face financial problems as they are unable to work for a living or have no monthly pension—or both," Villafuerte said. "And with inflation and the ever-rising living standards, it is getting harder and harder for our senior citizens to live as comfortably as they can in their golden age, especially after the inimical impact of the pandemic," he noted.