Senior citizens avail of the rollout of the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) COVID-19 vaccine in Tacloban City. Image from Facebook/Tacloban City City Information Office
MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives approved Monday a measure seeking to increase the social pension of indigent senior citizens to P1,000 per month.
With 225 affirmative votes, no negative, and no abstention, the lower chamber approved on final reading House Bill No. 9459 which seeks to amend Republic Act No. 7432, as amended, which currently only provides P500 monthly pension to indigent senior citizens.
Under House Bill No. 9459, a P1,000 monthly pension shall be provided to help indigent senior citizens with their daily and medical expenses.
The bill likewise mandates the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), in consultation with the Department of Budget and Management and other stakeholders, to review when necessary and increase the amount of social pension every two years after the effectiveness of the measure.
The implementation, distribution, and management of the social pension shall also be transferred from the DSWD to the National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC) within a period not exceeding three years from the effectiveness of the measure.