United Senior Citizens Party-list with various organizations and associations held a rally on Monday, January 20, in front of the Senate building.
On May 21, 2024, the House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved on third and final reading House Bill 10423 to push for the passage of the measure granting a monthly stipend of P500 to all senior citizens (60 years old and above). A week after, the bill was transmitted to the Senate of the Philippines.
To date, said bill has not been calendared in the Senate. Without an approved Senate counterpart measure before the Congress adjourns on February 07, 2025, the same will be sent back to the House of Representatives for re-filing, as such, all efforts will be in vain.
United Senior Citizens party-list Rep. Milagros Aquino-Magsaysay echoed that the rally is to voice out the concern of ALL the UNITED SENIOR CITIZENS of the Philippines as the bill specifically outlines a universal pension that will benefit all UNITED SENIOR CITIZENS in a time where there is dire need for governmental support for daily food necessities and medical needs.
Saddened, Magsaysay also pointed out, “Matagal na po natin itong ipinaglalaban sa Kongreso at finally po naaprubahan Kami po ay nakikiusap at nagmamakaawa na sa ating mga Senador na ipasa na po ninyo ito alang-alang sa mga nakatatanda. Eight months na po ito na tila natutulog dito sa Senado. Kung hindi po ito maipapasa ngayon, back to square one po ito at kailangan pang i-refile sa susunod na Kongreso.”
In the end, while Magsaysay believed that the delay in the passage of the measure is greatly disadvantageous to the UNITED SENIOR CITIZENS, she remains hopeful that the Senators will take to heart the appeal of the UNITED SENIOR CITIZENS across the country.
