4 out of 10 elderly Filipinos receive no pension — ILO

Four out of 10 Filipinos aged 60 and above do not receive any form of social pension, latest data from the International Labor Organization (ILO) showed.

According to a "24 Oras" report by Steve Dailisan, up to 60 percent of the country's 8 million senior citizens do not receive a contributory pension from the SSS or GSIS.

Of this 60 percent, a third (or 20 percent of the total) receive a pension from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

The remaining 40 percent are not covered by any pension package.

This, in spite of a provision under Republic Act (R.A.) 9994 otherwise known as the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010, which mandates that indigent senior citizens shall be entitled to a monthly stipend amounting to P1,500 every three months or P6,000 a year "to augment the daily subsistence and other medical needs."

The DSWD explained the agency's budget can only accommodate a limited number of applicants.

"Binigyan kami ng 5,278 slots. So kasama na rin doon 'yung previous na social pensioners.  So ang nangyari, this year, 2017, status quo. So walang naidagdag," a social worker from Valenzuela City said.

"May wait-listed tayong tinatawag o 'yung mga hindi pa natin nase-serve.  Based kasi sa budget, heto lang talaga 'yung kailangan na puwede nating i-cover," social welfare officer Analiza Salud of the DSWD IV's Social Pension Program said.

On the report, many senior citizens with measly sources of income like Anita are still hoping to receive monetary assistance from the government years after applying.

Even after suffering a stroke back in 2015, Anita continues to do other people's laundry to be able to provide for her family.

"Ako na lang ang pag-asa namin. Ang anak ko, wala na rin. Kulang na kulang."

The ILO is pushing for the country to achieve a universal pension system to cover all senior citizens regardless of social standing.

"Kanyang diskarte na lang 'yun kung paano siya magkakaroon ng panggastos. 'Yung iba may personal savings, kasi 'yung iba na kagaya ng sinabi ko, dumedepende sa kanilang pamilya, pero personal savings, puwede naming maubos 'yon," ILO Philippines  program officer Lourdes Magcapanpan said.

"May mga bansang universal pension coverage, regardless kung mayaman ka or mahirap ka or nag-contribute ka before or hindi. May access ka sa minimum pension income. So, for example, sa Japan, Timor Leste, Mongolia, lahat ng senior citizens ay nakakakuha ng minimum pension income," she added.

Salud, speaking for the DSWD, said: "We support the universal social pension. Of course, ang objective naman niya is to serve the vulnerable, marginalized and at 'yung talagang mga indigent senior citizens." — Margaret Claire Layug/BM, GMA News