A bill filed in the Senate seeks to raise the monthly social pension for qualified senior citizens to ₱1,000 and widen coverage under the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010.
Senate Bill 269 would grant the ₱1,000 monthly pension to senior citizens who currently receive no social pension, as well as those whose existing pension does not exceed ₱3,000. The bill’s author, Senator Bam Aquino, said that the measure is meant to provide qualified seniors a steady source of income for daily expenses, medical needs, and emergencies.
“As we grow older, it becomes more difficult to generate income. Many of our lolos and lolas face barriers to staying employed after the age of 60 due to physical limitations, age-based discrimination, or the lack of opportunities tailored to their skills,” Aquino said in a statement.
Aquino said a dependable pension could also lighten the load on families covering daily costs such as food, medicine, and education. He said a regular payout, unlike informal or irregular support, would let beneficiaries plan their spending with more certainty and decide for themselves how to use the money.
“Our senior citizens have broadly contributed to the development of our nation. It is time for us to return their sacrifices by ensuring that they are cared for in their old age,” Aquino said.
He added that the proposed pension could go toward food, medicine, utility bills, transportation, and other basic needs, which he said would ease the financial burden on younger family members supporting elderly relatives.
The bill is currently pending in the Senate. No hearing date has been set as of this writing.
