RE-ELECTED Senator Joel Villanueva fulfills one of his campaign promises as Senate Bill No. 2506 which proposes a P500 increase in the monthly social pension for indigent senior citizens is passed on third reading in the Senate on Monday (May 30).
“This is a huge blessing as we have already fulfilled one of our campaign promises even before our new Senate term started,” the senator said.
Villanueva, sponsor of the bill, recalls his meeting with senior citizens during his reelection campaign, where most of them emphasized that the current monthly pension of P500 is not enough as this only goes to their maintenance medicines.
“Tumaas na po ang presyo ng bilihin, marapat lang na itaas rin ang monthly social pension ng mga indigent senior citizens from ₱500 to ₱1,000,” Villanueva said.
In addition to increasing the monthly social pension for indigent senior citizens from P500 to P1,000, the bill also provides options other than cash payout for the pension to reach the target beneficiary. The transaction fee, if any, shall not be charged to the beneficiary.
“May mga seniors po na wala talagang maaasahan at hindi na kayang magtrabaho at hindi kayang suportahan ng mga kamag-anak o kaya walang kamag-anak. The ₱1,000 social pension is the least we can give them,” he added.
The bill also transfers the implementation, distribution, and management of the social pension for senior citizens from the DSWD to the National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC) within a period not exceeding three (3) years.
“Ang Senate Bill 2506 ay isang malaking regalo para sa ating mga seniors na matagal nang dinarasal ang dagdag na social pension. Higit po sa lahat, ito’y pagpapaigting sa kulturang Pilipino na may pagtatangi sa ating mga lolo, lola, nanny, impo, ingkong, at iba pa,” Villanueva said
