Mayoral candidate Carlo Aguilar proposes to establish a pension fund aimed at increasing the P1,000 monthly support to Las Piñas’ senior citizens, starting with the most vulnerable sector.
LP mayoral bet bats for pension fund for seniors
LAS Piñas City mayoral candidate Carlo Aguilar is proposing the creation of a pension fund that will provide monthly financial support to the city’s senior citizens.
This initiative aims to ease the everyday burden faced by thousands of elderly residents who rely on very limited government assistance.
There are around 11,000 seniors in Las Piñas who receive a P1,000 monthly social pension from the national government.
Aguilar’s proposed local pension fund seeks to expand the assistance coverage to the city’s estimated 60,000 senior residents.
It will begin with the most vulnerable sectors or those without access to a pension from the SSS or GSIS.
“No lolo or lola should be left behind. Our elderly should not have to choose between buying medicine and buying food because a thousand pesos is simply not enough in today’s economy,” Aguilar said in an interview.
Aguilar said the monthly amount will be determined through reviews and consultations with senior groups and other stakeholders.
He explained that the fund will be made possible through budget realignment, partnership with the private sector, and elimination of wasteful spending.
“There needs to be a full review of the city’s existing expenditure program to identify non-essential items that can be redirected toward the pension fund.
Tapping the corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs of big companies is also part of the proposed financing strategy for the fund,” Aguilar said.
This proposal aligns with national efforts to enhance support for senior citizens.
A pending measure in Congress, House Bill No. 10423, seeks to establish a universal social pension, providing a monthly stipend to all Filipino seniors.
While this bill is still under legislative consideration, Aguilar’s local initiative aims to address immediate needs within Las Piñas.
Aguilar said: “This isn’t just about numbers, it’s about values. If we can invest in buildings and infrastructure, we also need to invest in human dignity, especially for the seniors who have given so much to our city.”
Aguilar and his running mate for Vice Mayor, Louie Bustamante, remain confident it can be done. Both of them agreed that “our seniors deserve a government that puts their well-being first.”
“Sa bagong Las Piñas, lahat ng tao magkasama, walang iwanan,” Aguilar and Bustamante stated.
