The United Senior Citizens (USC) Party-list urged the Senate on Monday to pass a bill granting a universal social pension to all senior citizens before the 19th Congress ends on February 7.
The proposed measure provides a monthly pension of ₱1,000 for indigent seniors and ₱500 for non-indigents, with plans to standardize the amount to ₱1,000 within five years.
Rep. Milagros Aquino-Magsaysay lamented the Senate’s delay in advancing the bill, originally filed in 2022, which passed the House in May 2024.
Over 5,000 seniors joined a prayer rally at the Senate, highlighting the program’s role in improving the health and productivity of elderly Filipinos.
Rep. Stella Quimbo, who sponsored the bill, emphasized its funding feasibility and long-term benefits, saying prevention is more cost-effective than managing illnesses.
Source: PhilNews24 | January 21, 2025
