Press Release - Committed to promoting senior citizen welfare; Bong Go welcomes implementation of law doubling pensions

Senator Christopher "Bong" Go expressed his commitment to continue supporting the welfare of senior citizens in the country, especially the indigent ones, as he lauded the implementation of Republic Act No. 11916 or the law that doubled the social pension of qualified poor senior citizens.

RA 11916, which Go co-authored in the Senate, increased the monthly stipend of indigent senior citizens from PhP500 to PhP1,000. The law also mandated the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to review and adjust the amount of the social pension every two years, considering the consumer price index and other economic indicators.

According to the DSWD, more than 2,000 beneficiaries in the National Capital Region have received their increased social pension since the law took effect in July 2022. DSWD officials also assured that it has enough funds to cover the additional pension for the four million qualified indigent senior citizens.

"Ang batas na ito ay patunay ng aming malasakit at pagpapahalaga sa ating mga senior citizen na nag-ambag sa pag-unlad ng ating bansa. Hindi namin sila pababayaan, lalo na ang mga mahihirap at pinakanangangailangan," Go said.

Go also mentioned his co-authorship and co-sponsorship of Senate Bill No. 2028, which seeks to expand the coverage of the Centenarians Act of 2016 to Filipinos who reach the age of 80 and 90 years old by providing them P10,000 and P20,000 cash gifts, respectively. The bill, principally sponsored by Senator Imee Marcos, was approved by the Senate on the third and final reading in September 2023.

"Nasa kultura na nating mga Pilipino na alagaan ang ating mga nakakatanda. Dapat natin silang suportahan at bigyan ng pagkilala. Habang kaya pang pakinabangan at ma-enjoy ng senior citizen ang cash gift, ibigay na natin sa kanila," Go said.

"Maganda rin na may inaasahan ang ating mga senior citizen pagtuntong nila ng 80, 90 at 100 years old. Anuman ang halaga, maaari itong magsilbing inspirasyon sa kanila para mas maging positibo ang kanilang pananaw at mag-improve ang kanilang katayuan," he added.

Through the Centenarian Act of 2016, a PhP100,000 cash gift is extended to Filipino citizens who reach the age of 100.