SOME 4.1 million indigent senior citizens will each receive P12,000 in social pension this year upon the full implementation of Republic Act 11916.
This was confirmed by Senator Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara, who heads the Senate Committee on Finance that went over the 2023 national budget.
The P12,000 is equivalent to a 100 percent increase in the monthly pension of the elders from P500 to P1,000 per month as provided for under RA 11916.
A total of P50 billion was provided under the P5.268 trillion General Appropriations Act (GAA) for the pension of the indigent seniors, according to Angara.
As one of the authors of the law, Angara said the social pension will help indigent seniors with their daily subsistence and medical needs.
Angara said they made sure that the increase in social pension for the indigent seniors will be funded in the 2023 national budget.
“Isinulong natin ang dagdag sa pension nila lalu na at ang mga lolo at lola na makikinabang ditto ay wala talagang ipon o sustento galing sa kanino man,” he said.
Based on the guidelines of the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the implementing agency, eligible senior citizens should fall within the following criteria:
Frail, sickly or with disability; without pension from the Social Security System, Government Service Insurance System or from any sources of pension in government and private agencies; and without any permanent source of income, compensation or financial assistance from relatives to support their basic needs.
The social pension for indigent senior citizens was first introduced in 2010 as an additional government assistance under RA 9994 or the Expanded Senior Citizens’ Act.
RA 9994 amended the original Senior Citizen’s Act or RA 7432 to provide more benefits for Filipinos aged 60 and above, including the grant of a 20 percent discount on the purchase of certain goods and services such as medicines, a special five percent discount on prime commodities and basic necessities, and an exemption from the value added tax on the sale of goods and services.