BECAUSE of budgetary constraints, some legislators and senior citizens agreed to reconsider the proposed universal pension, reducing it from P1,000 to P500 per month.

United Seniors Party-list Rep. Mila Aquino-Magsaysay proposed the amendment during a Committee on Appropriations hearing chaired by Rep. Stella Quimbo, citing the need for fiscal prudence.

The change comes as lawmakers acknowledged the challenges in securing the P113 billion government has to raise for the original plan.

According to Aquino-Magsaysay, senior citizens are amenable to P500 monthly provided that the application is universal.

Under the bill, the country’s estimated 11 million senior citizens will receive monthly financial assistance from government regardless of their financial status.

However, implementing the P500 pension for all seniors could affect the 4.2 million seniors already receiving the P1,000 monthly social pension.

To address this, the committee has decided to refer the measure back to the technical working group for further amendment to avoid any adverse effects on current beneficiaries.

Despite the reduction, senior citizens and various organizations, including the Federation of Senior Citizens of the Philippines (FSCAP), have expressed support for the universal pension, emphasizing the importance of respect and dignity for seniors.

National Commission of Senior Citizens Chairman Franklin Quijano praised the move as a positive step towards enacting a USP law.

“We are happy of this move of the House of Representatives for the proposed universal pension program. It is not really the amount but the respect, dignity given to all seniors,” Quijano said.

Former QC councilor Jorge Banal, president of FSCAP-NCR, also welcomed the recognition given by the Lower House, highlighting the bill’s significance in acknowledging seniors’ contributions to national development.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Jester P. Manalastas