Universal Social Pension for Senior Citizens bill gets final House nod | ABS-CBN
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Universal Social Pension for Senior Citizens bill gets final House nod
Universal Social Pension for Senior Citizens bill gets final House nod
MANILA — The Universal Social Pension for Senior Citizens bill got the final nod of the House of Representatives on Tuesday.
MANILA — The Universal Social Pension for Senior Citizens bill got the final nod of the House of Representatives on Tuesday.
Voting 232-0-0, the lower chamber approved on third and final reading House Bill 10423, which seeks to expand those covered by the P1,000 monthly stipend to all Filipinos at least 60 years old. The existing social pension program only benefits indigent senior citizens.
Voting 232-0-0, the lower chamber approved on third and final reading House Bill 10423, which seeks to expand those covered by the P1,000 monthly stipend to all Filipinos at least 60 years old. The existing social pension program only benefits indigent senior citizens.
Once implemented, the measure will increase the number of beneficiaries from the current more than four million indigent senior citizens to an estimated 10.5 million senior citizens, according to one of the measure’s proponents, United Senior Citizens Party List Representative Milagros Aquino-Magsaysay.
Once implemented, the measure will increase the number of beneficiaries from the current more than four million indigent senior citizens to an estimated 10.5 million senior citizens, according to one of the measure’s proponents, United Senior Citizens Party List Representative Milagros Aquino-Magsaysay.
“This bill is a significant step towards ensuring the health and well-being of not just some, but ALL of our senior citizens,” she said in a statement.
“This bill is a significant step towards ensuring the health and well-being of not just some, but ALL of our senior citizens,” she said in a statement.
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New additions to the list of beneficiaries are proposed to receive an initial monthly pension of P500 on the first year of implementation. This amount will increase by P100 every year, until it reaches P1,000 a month. Funding for the measure begins at P89 billion on the first year of implementation.
New additions to the list of beneficiaries are proposed to receive an initial monthly pension of P500 on the first year of implementation. This amount will increase by P100 every year, until it reaches P1,000 a month. Funding for the measure begins at P89 billion on the first year of implementation.
Under the bill, senior citizens will have the right to waive their benefits or opt out of the Universal Social Pension program. It sets up a review mechanism for potential adjustments in the amount of social pension, to account for inflation and other economic factors.
Under the bill, senior citizens will have the right to waive their benefits or opt out of the Universal Social Pension program. It sets up a review mechanism for potential adjustments in the amount of social pension, to account for inflation and other economic factors.
“The social pension is on top of retirement pensions given by the Social Security System, Government Service Insurance System, Pension Gratuity and Management Center (PGMC), and other pension providers. The DSWD will have access to the databases of the Philippine Statistics Authority and of these pension providers for the purpose of building the DSWD central database of names of those eligible for the universal social pension,” Senior Citizens Party List Rep. Rodolfo “Ompong” Ordanes said.
“The social pension is on top of retirement pensions given by the Social Security System, Government Service Insurance System, Pension Gratuity and Management Center (PGMC), and other pension providers. The DSWD will have access to the databases of the Philippine Statistics Authority and of these pension providers for the purpose of building the DSWD central database of names of those eligible for the universal social pension,” Senior Citizens Party List Rep. Rodolfo “Ompong” Ordanes said.
The bill awaits deliberation and approval by the Senate before it can be signed into law by the President.
The bill awaits deliberation and approval by the Senate before it can be signed into law by the President.
The House of Representatives also approved on third and final reading House Bill 10188, which seeks to protect senior citizens from various forms of fraud, and House Bill 10312, which seeks to mandate the application of the 20 percent senior and PWD discount on top of promotional offers extended by establishments.
The House of Representatives also approved on third and final reading House Bill 10188, which seeks to protect senior citizens from various forms of fraud, and House Bill 10312, which seeks to mandate the application of the 20 percent senior and PWD discount on top of promotional offers extended by establishments.
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