A group of senior citizens on Monday, January 20 trooped to the Senate to rally for the passage of a bill that aims to grant social pension to all senior citizens in the country.
The United Senior Citizens (USC) Party-list led by Rep. Milagros Aquino-Magsaysay urged the Senate to expedite passage of the Universal Social Pension bill which, she said, has been languishing in the Senate since 2022.
Magsaysay said the House of Representatives version of the bill, House Bill No. 10423 was unanimously passed on third and final reading in May last year but the Senate version, Senate Bill No. 141, which was filed by Sen. Risa Hontiveros, remains at the committee level.
House Bill No. 10423 primarily seeks to expand the social pension provided under Republic Act No. 7432 to all Filipinos aged 60 and above.
“We urge our counterparts in the Senate to pass the bill before the 19th Congress closes. Nagsusumamo po ang nagkakaisang senior citizens natin na umaaray sa taas ng presyo ng bilihin (Our senior citizens who are reeling from the high prices of commodities are united in pleading for this),” Magsaysay said during an interview at the sidelines of the prayer rally.
“Sana aprubahan na ng mga mahal nating senador ang universal social pension dahil po walong buwan na sa Senado at sana naman po ay may panahon pa kasi magtatapos na ang 19th Congress sa February 8 (We hope our senators will approve the Universal Social Pension bill because it’s been eight months and we hope there is still time to pass the bill since the 19th Congress is about to end on February 8,” the lawmaker said.
The bill proposes that indigent seniors shall receive a monthly pension of P1,000, while non-indigents receive P500, with a yearly increase of P100 per year. Within five years, all elderly Filipinos should receive at least P1,000.
The bill also mandates the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), in collaboration with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and other stakeholders, to review the adjustment of the social pension every two years to keep up with economic changes.
The bill also provides the option for seniors to waive benefits or opt out of the program.
Magsaysay said it is imperative that all senior citizens in the country be covered by the Universal Social Pension program.
“Magkaroon ng pension ang lahat ng nakatatanda wala nang pili-pili, wala nang lista-lista, basta lahat. Mayaman ka man o mahirap; may pension ka man o wala ay tatanggap na ng buwanang pension kapag ito ay naisabatas (Every senior should receive pension, no more lists, all should be given. Whether rich or poor, or already receiving pension or not would be entitled to receive the amount once it is a law),” the solon said.
While she acknowledges that having a universal social pension “would not be cheap”, it would still provide balance as the program would help all elderly citizens be healthier and more productive.
“Pagbabalanse lang po ito ng interes. Ang pension para sa lahat ng seniors ay makatutulong sa pagbili ng gamot at pagkain, pagpapa-check-up, at maging sa pagsagawa ng iba pang produktibong bagay (It aims to balance interest. Pension for all seniors would help in buying medicines and food, medical check-up and enable them to be productive ),” she said.
“Funding to ensure a healthy elderly populace would ultimately be much cheaper than government having to spend for their support in times of illness. As is often said, prevention is better than cure,” the lawmaker added.