SENATOR Christopher “Bong” Go lauded his colleagues for supporting the elderly as the Senate on Monday, May 30, approved on third and final reading Senate Bill No. 2506, which seeks to increase the social pension of indigent senior citizens. Senator Go is one of the co-authors of the measure.

If passed into law, SBN 2506 shall increase the monthly pension allowance of senior citizens from P500 to P1,000. The said increase aims to support their basic necessities or medical needs.

“Isa sa mga malubhang tinamaan ng pandemya ay ang ating mga senior citizens. Alam naman po natin na sila ay isa sa mga high risk sa COVID-19 at sa iba pa pong sakit. Kaya itong pagtaas ng kanilang pensyon ay, kahit na anumang halaga, sigurado akong malaking tulong na ito sa kanila,” underscored Go.

“Nasa kultura na rin po ng Pilipino na alagaan natin ang mga nakakatanda, kaya naman nakakatuwa po na binigyang importansya ng Senado ang pagbibigay ng dagdag na pensyon sa ating mga senior citizens,” he added.

SBN 2506 will amend Republic Act No. 7432. Under the proposed law, the monthly stipend shall be released to qualified beneficiaries in the form of cash, direct remittance, electronic transfer, or other modes of delivery, whichever is more convenient to the beneficiary.

Furthermore, transaction or service fees upon release of the allowances to target beneficiaries shall be waived.

Subject to the approval of the Department of Budget and Management, the Department of Social Welfare and Development will likewise be tasked to assess, and when necessary, increase the amount of social pension every two years after its enactment into law.

Meanwhile, the implementation, distribution, and management of the social pension shall be transferred from the DSWD to the National Commission on Senior Citizens.

“Palagi po natin unahin ang kapakanan ng ating mga mahihirap lalo na po ang mga nakakatanda. Kilala naman po si Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte bilang malapit sa mga senior citizens, kaya alam po natin kung gaano kahalaga na mabigyan sila ng suporta at atensyon,” emphasized Go.

“Ako naman po, asahan niyo po na patuloy ko pong uunahin ang kapakanan ng ating mga nangangailangan tulad ng senior citizens. Kaya naman po patuloy din po akong susuporta sa mga programa para sa ikabubuti ng buhay ng ating mga nakakatanda,” he vowed.

In line with his commitment to prioritize the well-being of the elderly, Go has been consistent in encouraging senior citizens to get vaccinated against COVID-19, urging them to set aside their hesitation and get protected from the virus.

As Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, Go likewise appealed to national and local authorities to further strengthen their vaccination efforts and coordinate closely with their elderly residents and inoculate them in their own homes if possible.

“Bagama’t hindi mandatory ang vaccination laban sa COVID-19 at hindi pwedeng pilitin ang mga tao, hikayatin pa rin natin ang mga hindi pa bakunado na magpabakuna na upang maiwasan natin ang malubhang sakit o maging kamatayan dahil sa COVID-19. Ipaintindi natin nang mabuti at ilapit na natin sa kanila ang bakuna, lalo na po sa ating mga senior citizens,” said Go previously.

“Iyong mga senior citizens natin hindi nakakalabas at takot mag-travel papunta sa vaccination center. Kaya dapat puntahan ng local government units ‘yung pamamahay ng mga gustong magpabakuna na,” he added.

Considering that the elderly are more prone to COVID-19, Go also reminded them to be extra cautious and to continue following the mandated health protocols against the virus.

“Patuloy lang po ang ating pagbabayanihan. Huwag po kayong mag-alala dahil hindi kayo pababayaan ng gobyerno. Kinakailangan lang namin ang inyong patuloy na kooperasyon upang malagpasan ang krisis na ating kinakaharap,” concluded Go.