IN a historic display of unity, hundreds of senior citizens from various regions marched to the House of Representatives today to demand the immediate passage of the Universal Social Pension Act, personally delivering over one million signatures to lawmakers and appealing directly to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to enact the measure.
Earlier in the day, the Committee on Senior Citizens led by its Chairperson Hon. Milagros Aquino-Magsaysay of the United Senior Citizens Partylist, together with its Committee Members, held the ceremonial partial-turnover of the “12 Milyong Lagda Para sa Matatanda: Universal Social Pension, Ngayon Na!” signature campaign. The campaign was supported by various senior citizen groups and federations, Members of the Committee, and a number of Representatives.
House Leadership Echoes the Call for Dignity
Showing strong executive backing from the lower chamber, the House leadership stood firmly behind the elderly community. Expressing the lower house’s absolute commitment to the welfare of the country’s elders, House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” D. Dy III remarked:
“The Universal Social Pension is not simply about assistance. It is about dignity, gratitude, and compassion… our seniors must be provided support to help them afford all of their basic needs. Let us always remember that the true measure of a nation is how it cares for its most vulnerable citizens.”
“Babantayan natin ang Universal Social Pension” bill na ngayon ay nakasalang na sa committee on appropriations.”, adds Speaker Dy.
“Hindi natin dapat tingnan ang ating mga nakatatanda bilang statistics lamang, kundi bilang mga magulang, lolo at lola, at mga Pilipinong buong buhay nagsakripisyo para sa kanilang pamilya at inang bayan.”
A Moral and Existential Necessity
The initiative has galvanized the country’s aging population, who are demanding that social pensions be granted as a matter of right to all Filipinos aged 60 and above, regardless of economic status.
Hon. Magsaysay stressed that the measure is no longer just a legislative proposal, but a moral and existential necessity for the country’s 12 million elderly.
“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,” Magsaysay stated. “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 ng pinipili, ng wala ng sinisino.”
Magsaysay highlighted alarming data from the Commission on Population and Development and the University of the Philippines Population Institute, noting that senior citizens now comprise about 10% of the total population, with over two-thirds battling at least one chronic illness. She noted that regional neighbors like Brunei, Thailand, and Vietnam have already fully implemented universal social pensions.
Echoing Former President Ramon Magsaysay, who authored the country’s original Social Security Law and famously declared that “those who have less in life must have more in law,” the lawmaker emphasized that the bill removes the societal stigma of proving destitution just to receive state aid.
The United Senior Citizens Partylist leader closed with an emotional, direct appeal to Malacañang, reminding President Marcos Jr. of the elderly population’s deep, historical roots that started with the administration of the elder Marcos.
“Ang lahat ng sumuporta at nagmahal sa dating Pangulong Ferdinand E. Marcos, Sr. ay mga senior citizens na lahat ngayon, kaya’t kung nais suklian ng ating Mahal na Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. ang suporta at pagmamahal na yan, aprubahan na po niya ang Universal Social Pension.”
“Mahal na Pangulo, labing-dalawang milyong nakatatandang Pilipino po at dumarami pa ang kumakatok sa inyong puso. Let this be your legacy, Mr. President… and you will forever be remembered as the President who loved the Filipino senior citizens.”, Hon. Magsaysay added.
Hon. Magsaysay and the Committee Members vowed to continue gathering signatures across all provinces and municipalities until the voice of the Filipino elderly officially becomes the law of the land.
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