Seniors taken for a ride
A seasoned political commentator recently highlighted the distinction between an advocate for a cause and those who engage in politicking solely to win votes.
After much noise on the expanded social benefits for senior citizens, the much-ballyhooed bill that millions of grandfathers and grandmothers are waiting for fell on the wayside and just like that, the proponents who extensively used the bill to boost their candidacies, said another such bill is coming in the 20th session and expectedly with more trumpets and drum rolls.
Only indigent senior citizens are currently eligible for a P1,000 monthly pension under Republic Act 11916. Still, the proposed legislation aims to expand this coverage to all elderly Filipinos, providing P500 per month to those aged 60 to 69 and P1,000 per month to those aged 70 and above.
“The delay in the passage of the proposed measure expanding the benefits of senior citizens sends a message that the welfare of our elderly is not a priority.”
This is alarming given the rapidly increasing number of senior citizens in the Philippines.
As of 2020, there were approximately 9.2 million Filipinos aged 60 and above in the country, according to a census conducted by the Philippine Statistics Authority, equivalent to around 8.5 percent of the total population.
By 2055, the PSA projects that the senior citizen population will double, reaching around 20 percent of the total population.
The familiar face on television, who is also a boomer, explained that critics may argue that expanding benefits for senior citizens is far too costly. Still, after years of contributing to society and paying taxes, “senior citizens should not have to beg for basic support.”
“As a senior citizen, I now witness and experience firsthand the gaps in our country’s social support system for the elderly, and I share the call for improvement to allow my fellow senior citizens to live their remaining years with dignity and the security they deserve,” he indicated.
Systematic changes are needed to ensure that development is inclusive for senior citizens and other vulnerable groups, rather than the lip service that Filipinos often receive, particularly during election years.