POE SEEKS PENSION HIKE FOR INDIGENT SENIORS

Sen. Grace Poe took up the cudgels for the elderly and sought an increase in their social pension in keeping with the legislator's vow to improve the welfare of senior citizens.

Poe filed Senate Resolution No. 280 directing the appropriate Senate committees to look into the feasibility of increasing the social pension for indigent senior citizens, which they enjoy under Republic Act No. 9994 or the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010.

"Nararapat at napapanahon nang rebyuhin ang batas na naipasa pa noong 2010 dahil nakasaad dito na kada dalawang taon ang isinasagawang pagbusisi ng Kongreso. Sa tumataas na presyo ng mga pangangailangan ng ating senior citizens, nananawagan tayo ng umento sa kanilang social pension buwan-buwan dahil hindi na sapat ang P500 na kanilang natatanggap," Poe said.

There are an estimated 2.8 million indigent senior citizens in the country who are set to avail of social pensions under the 2017 national budget.

Under the law, indigent seniors--those aged 60 and above--are entitled to a monthly stipend of P500 to augment their daily subsistence and other medical needs.

Just recently, the Duterte administration vowed that perks for senior citizens would remain intact in the light of earlier proposals to limit benefits and privileges enjoyed by seniors and persons with disabilities.

Poe hoped that the hearings would result in serious consideration of an increase in the benefits granted to the elderly, as a mandated congressional review is already five years behind.