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Thursday, March 28, 2024

Solon eyes reforms in elderly policies

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Here’s a bit of good news for all senior citizens out there.

Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte presses his advocacy for reforms in the government’s policies on senior citizens, including doubling of the elderly’s monthly pension to P1,000.

In pushing for the reforms, Villafuerte citied the Filipino culture’s deep respect for the elders.

 “Filipinos have an innate deep regard and respect for our elders. It is ingrained in our culture as well as reflected in our own Constitution where it is stated that it is familial duty to take care of our elderly.” Villafuerte said.

“The State, in turn, provides for the protection and social services of such a vulnerable group as the elderly,” he added.
He said the enrolled bill only needs President Duterte’s approval to make it a law.

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It provides for options for the pension other than a cash payout, the transaction fee of which will no longer be charged to the beneficiary-seniors.

It also stated that instead of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC) would be in charge of distributing the monthly pension to the beneficiary-senior citizens.

Villafuerte’s version of this proposed law—House Bill (HB) 4650—was one of similar bills incorporated into the substitute bill (HB 9459) that the House approved on third and final reading last August 2.

This consolidated bill on an “Act Increasing the Social Pension of Indigent Senior Citizens and Appropriating Funds Therefor” seeks to amend Republic Act (RA) 7432 that provided for a universal social pension for senior citizens and RA 9994 that expanded the Senior Citizens Act. Of 2010.

Although the Filipino elderly are valued and respected for their wisdom and experiences, Villafuerte said they still encounter challenges to their daily living because of their old age.

“Legislated measures have been provided by the State to provide for their safety and security, but, unfortunately, most of them face financial problems as they are unable to work for a living or have no monthly pension—or both. And with inflation and the ever rising living standards, it is getting harder and harder for our senior citizens to live as comfortably as they can in their golden age.”

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