At least 36.9% of senior citizens in the country did not have a pension in 2020, the Philippine Institute for Development Studies has reported.
According to Saleema Refran’s report on “24 Oras”, this number was down from 78.9% of Filipinos aged 60 and older who did not have any pension in 2011.
The percentage decreased due to the expansion of the social pension program in which qualified senior citizens received P500 per month from the DSWD.
“Mahalaga ‘yun kagaya sa aming matatanda na kahit papaano meron kaming pera,” pensioner Jesus Cuadling said.
“Noong June pa, kami nagtanggap, wala pa yung second release. Nakikitira ako sa mga anak ko,” senior citizen Francisca Mabasa said.
Congress is looking to upgrade the social pension program for senior citizens with a P5 billion fund in the 2023 national budget.
However, some lawmakers and groups wanted to ensure that all senior citizens must receive a pension.
The universal pension bill was already at the committee level of Congress.
This aims to give a P1,000 pension per month to all senior citizens in the country.
“Maraming seniors ang nagrereklamo. Bakit daw matagal na silang seniors ay kahit isang singkong duling ay wala raw silang natatanggap sa gobyerno,” Senior Citizens Partylist representative Rodolfo Ordanes said.
“Yung universal pension na ang ating i-finile para lahat na po magkaroon whether rich or poor, pensioner or non-pensioner,” he added.
“Every two years naman kasi ay dapat ireview… every two years ‘yan sigurado ay magkakaroon ng increase,” he added.
GMA News Research recorded 20 proposals were filed in the 19th Congress, to increase or expand the social pension program for poor senior citizens.
