By Tracy Cabrera
BATASAN, Quezon City — Lawmakers in the House of Representatives are leaning toward the institutionalization of the proposed Universal Social Pension for senior citizens following Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III’s support for the measure.
On Monday, May 25, Dy said he backs the growing push for House Bill 10423, which seeks to amend the Expanded Senior Citizens Act. He said the government has a moral obligation to protect elderly Filipinos who spent their lives sacrificing for their families and the nation.
Speaking at the turnover of the initial batch of signatures for the “Twelve Million Signatures for the Elderly” campaign, the House leader from Isabela said millions of Filipinos are calling for stronger support for seniors struggling with rising medicine, health care, and living costs.
“I believe that true service begins with listening, understanding, compassion and love,” he said before senior citizens’ groups, colleagues, and supporters of the pension measure.
“We should not see our elderly merely as statistics, but as parents, grandparents, and Filipinos who spent their entire lives sacrificing for their families and our nation,” he added.
Currently, government assistance for senior citizens is limited to indigent elderly Filipinos under the Social Pension for Indigent Senior Citizens program, which provides P1,000 monthly to qualified beneficiaries.
However, the program covers only seniors with no income, while those already receiving pensions or cash assistance are excluded from the monthly stipend.
With this in mind, Dy said the proposed Universal Social Pension is not just financial aid but a recognition of the dignity and contributions of senior citizens.
“That is why the Universal Social Pension is not simply about assistance—it is about dignity, gratitude, and compassion,” he said.
“Given the costs of medicine, food, and health care, our seniors must be provided support to help them afford their basic needs.”
Dy also stressed what he described as the moral responsibility of government and society to care for vulnerable sectors, especially the elderly.
“Let us always remember that the true measure of a nation is how it cares for its most vulnerable citizens,” he said.
Meanwhile, United Senior Citizens party-list Rep. Milagros “Mila” Aquino-Magsaysay thanked the Speaker for his support during the formal turnover of millions of signatures gathered nationwide.
Aquino-Magsaysay, chair of the House Committee on Senior Citizens, urged Congress to strengthen social protection and financial security for older Filipinos.
Dy described the signature campaign as proof of growing public demand for stronger government action for the elderly.
“We salute everyone who took part in the ‘Twelve Million Signatures for the Elderly.’ Your support is proof that many Filipinos believe it is time to further strengthen care for our senior citizens,” he said.
“You have shown that genuine compassion, when matched with real action, can move a nation to do what is right for those who have spent their lives caring for others.”
He assured senior citizens that the House would continue supporting measures that improve their welfare.
“You can expect that we will continue to support the right measures that will ease and improve their lives because this is humane and just,” he said.
“This is also our way of expressing gratitude to our senior citizens for their contributions to every Filipino family and to our country.”
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