Bill seeking to raise senior pension to P2,000 a month filed in House

A measure seeking to raise the pension of senior citizens from P1,000 a month to P2,000 has been filed in the House of Representatives.

House Resolution 1370 was filed by the Makayan Bloc, led by ACT Teachers Party-list Representative Antonio Tinio.

"This is a concrete step toward recognizing that our senior citizens deserve not merely gratitude, but adequate and sustained social protection," Tinio said in a statement on Thursday.

Aside from increasing the monthly pension, the bill also seeks to expand the coverage to SSS and GSIS pensioners who receive P10,000 or less a month.

The bill also wants to create an automatic periodic adjustment for social pension based on inflation.

Citing data from the Philippine Statistics Authority, the Makabayan Bloc said that the country now has 9.85 million senior citizens, or one in every 11 Filipinos.

“The Constitution recognizes older persons as a priority sector deserving special protection. Article XIII, Section 11 mandates the State to give priority to the needs of the elderly, while Article II affirms the State's commitment to social justice and the promotion of a dignified life for all,” the bill’s explanatory note read.

Seniors Kontra Kurakot (SKK) lobbied for the measure after they pushed for more government spending on social protection and services for the elderly.

"Senior citizens have contributed decades of work and service to their families, communities and society. They deserve a pension and social protection system that allows them to live with dignity, not one that leaves them struggling to survive," SKK said in a statement.

The SKK urged Congress to pass the bill and ensure that enough funds are allocated for its implementation. —Jean Mangaluz/AOL, GMA News