MORE than one million signatures calling for the urgent passage of a Universal Social Pension bill for all senior citizens were formally turned over to House leaders on Monday, as lawmakers and elderly groups intensified calls for stronger government support for Filipino senior citizens amid rising living and healthcare costs.
The ceremonial partial turnover of signatures was led by House Committee on Senior Citizens Chair and United Senior Citizens Party-list Rep. Milagros Aquino-Magsaysay during the “Milyong Lagda Para sa Matatanda: Universal Social Pension, Ngayon Na” campaign event held at the House of Representatives.
“We are all part of history in the making,” Aquino-Magsaysay said in her speech, describing the campaign as a growing nationwide movement among senior citizens seeking the passage of a long-awaited universal pension measure.
According to Aquino-Magsaysay, the signature campaign was launched last March 18, 2026 and has since mobilized senior citizens’ associations, organizations, and federations across the country in support of the proposed legislation.
“Our Ceremonial Partial-Turnover today of the more than one million signatures in support of the bill reverberates the strong clamor of the more than 12 million senior citizens all over the country asking for our government to give preferential attention for the promotion of their welfare and rights,” she said.
Aquino-Magsaysay stressed that she has been advocating the measure since the 17th Congress, emphasizing that the proposed pension is a recognition of the rights of elderly Filipinos.
“Since the 17th Congress or almost a decade now, I have been advocating for this measure not as a grant of privilege but a recognition of our senior citizens’ rights,” she said.
“With the emergences of various economic crisis and challenges that befall upon our elderly, now more than ever the Universal Social Pension becomes an existential and moral imperative,” she added.
“Ngayon po higit kailanman, kailangan na nating ipagkaloob ang social pension. Hindi lang para sa mga indigent senior citizens – kundi para sa lahat ng matatandang Pilipino – ng wala nang pinipili, ng wala nang sinisino.”
The lawmaker said many elderly Filipinos continue to struggle with poverty, hunger, and limited access to healthcare and social services.
“Thousands if not millions of our elderly today live below poverty line amidst allegations of corruption and anomalies. They are one of the most vulnerable sectors of our society.”
Aquino-Magsaysay said the signature campaign would continue nationwide until the proposed Universal Social Pension bill is enacted into law.
“Simula pa lamang po ito. We hope to gather more and more signatures from across our regions, provinces, cities and municipalities until our voices are heard and our signatures turn into law.”
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