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Hontiveros pushes for P1,500 monthly pension for all senior citizens
MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Risa Hontiveros has sought the passage of a measure granting a P1,500 monthly social pension for all senior citizens to help sustain their daily living expenses.
This came as the Senate Committee on Social Justice and Rural Development held its first hearing on Wednesday on Senate Bill No. 215, or the Lingap Para Kay Lolo at Lola Act.
The bill, authored by Hontiveros, seeks to amend certain provisions of the Expanded Senior Citizens Act or Republic Act No. 9994.
“The needs of our grandparents increase as they grow older, especially when it comes to their health. But many of them can no longer afford to buy their medicines. That’s why sometimes they choose to spend on food, water, or electricity instead of medicines,” Hontiveros said in Filipino.
In emphasizing the need for the universal social pension, Hontiveros cited data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showing that there are currently about 11 million senior citizens in the Philippines, most of whom suffer from illnesses that require maintenance medicines.
“Whenever it’s our grandparents’ birthday, we always wish them good health and a long life. But how can we help prolong their lives if they don’t have the means to buy their medicines?” she asked in Filipino.
“Taking care of the most vulnerable of our society, including our elderly, is a constitutional mandate. To our grandparents—you were the first to build the Filipino family, and you are the reason we have reached where we are today,” said Hontiveros in a mix of Filipino and English.
Under the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s Social Pension for Indigent Senior Citizens Program, the current social pension for senior citizens is at P1,000 per month and is limited to indigents.
The stipend was initially set at P500 but increased to P1,000 in January 2024, following the passage of Republic Act No. 1196, or “An Act Increasing the Social Pension of Senior Citizens,” in July 2022. /jpv
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