Quezon City 5th District Rep. Patrick Michael “PM” Vargas filed House Bill 5395, the “Widowed Persons Assistance Act,” aimed at providing welfare support to widows.
The proposed law seeks to offer temporary financial aid, psychosocial counseling, livelihood programs, and priority access to social services for indigent widowed Filipinos.
Vargas emphasized that the bill will help widows, especially the elderly, who often struggle to find employment after losing their spouses.
He said the measure complements existing laws like the Expanded Senior Citizens Act and the Universal Healthcare Act to better address widows’ needs.
According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, widowed persons make up 4.5 percent of households, with 75 percent being women.
Source: PhilNews24 | October 13, 2025
