Elderly pension bill advances

THE funding provision of the proposed social pension for senior citizens bill has hurdled the House Committee on Appropriations, said Senior Citizen Party-List Rep. Rodolfo Ordanes.

«Having hurdled scrutiny of the House Appropriations Committee, the Universal Social Pension bill now goes to the Committee on Rules for inclusion to the plenary agenda for second reading,» said Ordanes, head of the House Committee on Senior Citizens, in a statement.

The lawmaker thanked Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co, the chairman of the Appropriations Committee, and Speaker Martin Romualdez for believing in the merits of the bill.

«We have been pushing for the universal social pension as a matter of right of all seniors, not just the indigents. I believe the universal social pension will be crucial to keeping the near-poor and lower-middle-income seniors from slipping into poverty,» he said.

Under the bill, senior citizens «not previously considered indigents shall be entitled to a monthly stipend of P500. The amount will be increased to P1,000 after five years.

Ordanes said he was hopeful the measure would be passed on the third and final reading before the House adjourns sine die later this month.