Bill increasing social pension for indigent seniors awaits Duterte OK

MANILA, Philippines — The measure seeking to increase the monthly social pension for indigent senior citizens to P1,000 now only needs the approval of President Rodrigo Duterte.

This came after the House of Representatives adopted Tuesday the Senate version of the bill which was already approved on final reading on Monday.

This means there is no need for a bicameral conference committee to settle the disagreeing provisions between the Senate and House versions of the measure.

The measure also provides options other than cash payout for the pension, the transaction fee of which will not be charged to the beneficiary.

The bill also transfers the distribution of the pension allowance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development to the National Commission of Senior Citizens.

In seeking the bill’s plenary approval, Senator Joel Villanueva, who sponsored the measure in the Senate, pointed out that the current P500 monthly pension allowance for indigent senior citizens is “not enough” to sustain their daily needs and other medical needs.

READ: Senate OKs bill hiking social pension for indigent seniors

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