Senate Approves Increase on Pension of Senior Citizens

Update on Bill Filed in Senate for Increase of Senior Citizens’ Pension

SENATE – Eighteen (18) senators approved the proposed increase on the social pension of poor senior citizens in the Philippines.

Aside from the benefit of a senior citizen discount whenever they would make purchases or pay for bills in food stores, pharmacies, and other establishments, Filipinos who are aged 60 years old and above also receive a monthly pension.

The poor senior citizens also get a social pension that is currently at Php 500.00 per month. The indigents also receive the same amount which aims to help them cope with their needs.

However, due to the increasing prices of a lot of goods and services in the Philippines now, there are sentiments that the said amount may not be enough for the poor senior citizens. A bill seeking its increase was filed before the Senate.

Senate
Photo Credit: Philippine Star

Recently, a good news for poor senior citizens crossed the surface. Based on a report on ABS-CBN News, Senate Bill No. 2506 which aims to amend the Republic Act 7432 “An Act to Maximize the Contribution of Senior Citizens to Nation Building, Grant Benefits and Special Privileges and for Other Purposes” was approved.

According to the report, 18 senators voted to approve the said bill seeking to increase the social pension of poor senior citizens. No one disagreed with the bill or abstained from voting.

Under the bill, the current Php 500.00 monthly pension for poor senior citizens will be raised to Php 1,000.00. In case it would be signed, it will be a law and it is also expected that the beneficiaries will not be charged of the transaction fee for cash pay-out.

Sen. Joel Villanueva is one of the primary authors of the bill. He stressed that the Php 500.00 social pension was unchanged for more than a decade and the prices of goods and services now have increased thus the assistance to the indigent senior citizens must also be raised.

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