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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Villar pushes for universal pension coverage for senior citizens

Villar pushes for universal pension coverage for senior citizens

By MBrand
Published Aug 27, 2025 02:23 pm
Senator Mark Villar
Senator Mark Villar
Senator Mark Villar has filed Senate Bill No. 95, also known as the Universal Social Pension for Senior Citizens Act, seeking to expand pension benefits to all elderly Filipinos regardless of their social or economic status.
The measure aims to amend Republic Act No. 7432, which currently limits pension coverage to indigent senior citizens. Villar emphasized that all Filipinos aged 60 and above deserve standardized support to help them cope with the rising costs of living.
“Panahon na po para amyendahan ang ating batas para sa mga minamahal nating senior citizens. Hindi na po dapat ito naka-base sa kanilang social status or indigency. Naniniwala po ako na basta senior citizen ka, may pension ka dapat na natatanggap,” Villar said.
Responding to an Aging Population
The Philippines has been experiencing rapid demographic shifts. Data from the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) projects that the number of Filipinos aged 60 and above will nearly triple over three decades—from 9.3 million in 2020 to 23.7 million in 2050.
Villar noted that this growing sector of society must be at the forefront of government welfare initiatives.
“Dapat pagtuunan ng pansin ng ating gobyerno ang patuloy na paglaki ng aging population ng bansa. The bill that we filed will catch up with this demographic change by proposing an inclusive and universal approach to distributing pension,” he said.
Proposed Pension Benefits
Under Senate Bill No. 95, senior citizens who are not currently classified as indigent will also be entitled to monthly financial support. The proposal sets a minimum stipend of ₱500 per month, which will increase to ₱1,000 per month within five years, regardless of other pensions they may already receive.
Villar said this standardized pension scheme would provide significant relief to seniors struggling with everyday expenses.
“Gusto natin na lahat ng ating mga nakakatanda ay makatanggap ng kani-kanilang mga pension sila man ay indigent o hindi at mabigyan sila ng monthly stipend regardless of their other pension benefits,” he added.
Fiscal Considerations and Oversight
The Senator also underscored the importance of ensuring that pension distribution remains financially sustainable. He said that the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) should regularly review and adjust the program based on the evolving needs of the elderly and prevailing economic conditions.
“We want to file a bill that is proactive to the needs of our people, especially our senior citizens… dapat may patuloy na pag-aaral sa kung ano ang pangangailangan at kalagayan ng ating mga minamahal na senior citizens,” Villar stressed.
If passed into law, the measure would mark a significant step toward universal pension coverage in the country, extending government support to millions of Filipino seniors previously excluded from the system.

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