LAKAS-CMD vice presidential candidate Sara Duterte-Carpio has cited the need for the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to explore the possibility of giving pension to all senior citizens.
“We need to talk to the DSWD and make them understand that we need a system that will give pension to all senior citizens,” Duterte-Carpio said before a crowd of 3,000 senior citizens in Barangay Aningway Sacatihan in Subic, Zambales late Sunday.
Duterte said pension for senior citizens has been a common challenge for local government units, including Davao City.
The Davao City government has already intervened to resolve the issue by creating an ordinance providing fair pension benefits to senior citizens since they cannot overrule a national law.
Lucita Enalobo, 81 and a resident of Barangay Calapandayan, expressed her happiness over Duterte-Carpio’s understanding of their plight.
Enalobo has been a pensioner since 2001, but said the P2,000 monthly financial support is not enough for her monthly needs as she is under medication for high blood pressure and has been recently diagnosed with a kidney problem.
Duterte-Carpio, since the start of her campaign, has been highlighting her advocacy for equality among Filipinos.
She was in Zambales for the 20th day of the Mahalin Natin ang Pilipinas Ride (MNPR).
