Malacañang encourages national government agencies (NGAs) and local government units to support senior citizen activities during the annual celebration of the Elderly Filipino Week or “Linggo ng Katandaang Filipino.”
Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva called on Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to ensure funding for the increase of the monthly social pension of the country’s indigent senior citizens.
In Memorandum Circular No.34, the Palace ordered the National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC) to lead the activities and programs during the observance of the elderly week.
“All NGAs and instrumentalities, including GOCCs (government-owned or -controlled corporations), GFIs (government financial institutions) and SUCs (state universities and colleges) are hereby directed, and all LGUs are hereby encouraged, to extend full support for and cooperation with the NCSC in the conduct of relevant activities and programs for senior citizens during the annual celebration of the Elderly Filipino Week,” the memorandum stated.
Republic Act (RA) 11350, or the “National Commission of Senior Citizen Act,” ensures the full implementation of laws, government policies, and programs for senior citizens.
The memo, signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on September 29, would be implemented through the funding of the current and available appropriations of concerned agencies.
Villanueva, principal sponsor of the Increased Social Pension of Indigent Senior Citizens Law, said the proposed National Expenditure Program for 2024 appropriates P49.80 billion for the social pension of indigent seniors involving P1,000 per month stipend.
However, Villanueva noted that for 2023, the social pension of indigent senior citizens disbursed remained at P 500 per month despite last year’s passage of a law doubling the amount.
“Have pity on our senior citizens. Give them additional pension that should be received by them,” he said.
He questioned the DBM why they can easily allocate funds
for the flood control program which has a budget of P1.074 billion per day.
“But it is very. very difficult for them to look for funds for the much- needed help of our lolo and lola,” Villanueva lamented.
Under the 2023 General Appropriations Act, P 25.30 billion has been appropriated for the social pension of indigent senior citizens.
Additionally, P 25 billion in unprogrammed funds was earmarked to cover the additional pension.
Republic Act No. 11916, which was sponsored by Villanueva during the 18th Congress, mandates a 100 percent increase in the monthly pension — from P500 to P1,000 — of the country’s indigent seniors, estimated at about 4.1 million to date.
The law amended Republic Act 7432, the first Senior Citizens Act. During the budget briefing at the Senate, the DBM acknowledged that no funds have been released yet from the Unprogrammed Funds for the additional pension, which means that no indigent senior pensioner has received the increase this year.
“Our elderlies are pinning their hopes on the release of the unprogrammed funds to get their pension,” Villanueva said.