(Eagle News)—-Senator Bam Aquino has filed a resolution seeking to increase the social pension of senior citizens.
In calling for a P1000 increase for those receiving a pension not exceeding P3,000, and those who are not receiving any at all, Aquino noted in Senate Bill. No. 2142 that that sector of society needed to cope with the rising cost of basic commodities.
For this, Aquino cited a study conducted by the Coalition of Services of the Elderly (COSE) which showed that only 32 percent of eight million senior citizens in the country receive a social pension of P500 a month, while 38 percent do not receive any pension at all.
“When it comes to the 1.5 million Social Security System (SSS) pensioners, less than half receives not more than P3,400 per month,” Aquino said.
According to Aquino, “with no or inadequate pension for many Filipino senior citizens, they are forced to rely on the modest incomes of their families who are also struggling to make a living.”
“Giving them social pension will greatly help to address their daily needs, and provide some relief to their households,” Aquino added.
