Rep. Migz Villafuerte along with Deputy Majority Leader Luigi Villafuerte plus two more Camarines Sur lawmakers are pushing a universal social pension for the elderly that will mean a monthly allowance of at least P500 for all senior citizens, including those who are not considered indigent ones or without incomes.
These Camarines Sur legislators are proposing in House Bill (HB) No. 2048 that this universal social pension or cash grant for all seniors, initially at P500 monthly, will be doubled to P1,000 in five years’ time.
However, an estimated 4 million indigent seniors who are already getting a monthly social pension of P1,000 under the Social Pension for Indigent Senior Citizens (SPISC) Program—as provided for in Republic Act (RA) No. 9994 and RA 11916—will continue to receive this higher pension of P1,000 even if HB 2048 becomes a law.
“Despite the numerous legislative measures meant to keep senior citizens in the mainstream of society, the current monthly social pension pension for them remains exclusionary.”
The bill allows any senior citizen to waive this monthly stipend, and directs the Departments of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and of Budget and Management (DBM) to review this social pension and adjust its amount within two years of this Act’s effectivity, based on the emerging needs of the elderly, cost of living adjustments, and the latest economic indicators.
“In recognition of the significant contribution to nation-building of elderly Filipinos, who have passed down generations of skills, knowledge and wisdom that continue to shape our way of life and preserve our rich traditions and cultural heritage, and customs, a slew of laws have been enacted for their economic and social benefit,” Migz Villafuerte said.
The chairman of the House committee on information and communications technology (ICT), Migz said that, “Even in old age, many of our seniors remain active as members of local councils, as church leaders, or as professionals in their respective communities.”
HB 2048 was also authored by Camarines Sur Rep. Tsuyoshi Anthony Horibata and Terry Ridon (Bicol Saro partylist).
Luigi Villafuerte pointed out, though, that “despite the numerous legislative measures meant to keep senior citizens in the mainstream of society, the current monthly social pension pension for them remains exclusionary. The inflation rate that leads to the rise in the cost of goods and services affects even those who are not officially classified as indigents.”
Thus, said Luigi, HB 2048 seeks “to address the current limitations by ensuring all senior citizens, regardless of their social status, receive equal treatment from the government through a universal pension.”
He explained that the bill “mandates a monthly stipend of P500 for senior citizens who are previously not considered as indigents. Within five years, this amount shall increase to a minimum of P1,000 per month to augment the daily subsistence and other medical needs of all senior citizens, whether receiving a pension from any pension provider.”
This measure is a refiled bill from the 19th Congress, and which was approved on third and final reading by the House of Representatives and then transmitted to the Senate.
Migz noted that RA 9994, or the “Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010,” established the SPISC with a cash grant of P500 each month to augment the daily subsistence and other medical needs of all indigent Filipinos 60 years of age and above; while RA 11916 doubled in 2022 this monthly stipend to P1,000.
“The bill mandates a monthly stipend of P500 for senior citizens who are previously not considered as indigents. Within five years, this amount shall increase to a minimum of P1,000 per month.”
Aside from RA 9994 and RA 111916, Migz said the rest of the pro-elderly laws include RA 7432, or the “Senior Citizens Act of 1992,” which laid the foundation for senior citizens’ rights and benefits; RA No. 9257 in 2003 that expanded these benefits; RA 10645, which mandated (Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) coverage for them; RA 11350, which created the National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC); and RA 7876, which mandated the establishment of Senior Citizens Centers in all cities and municipalities.
Another law beneficial to the aged is RA 11982, or the “Act granting Benefits to Filipino Octogenarians and Nonagenarians,” which Migz and former congressman and now-Camarines Sur Gov. LRay Villafuerte had co-authored to amend RA 10868, or the “Centenarians Act” of 2016, by granting a P10,000 cash gift to every senior citizen when they reach 80, 85, 90 and 95 years of age.
RA 10868 provided for a P100,000 gift each for seniors when they become centennials or turn 100.
To make universal pension happen for seniors, HB 2048 provides that: “senior citizens who are previously not considered as indigents shall be entitled to a monthly stipend amounting to at least P500 upon the effectivity of this Act, provided that within 5 years, all senior citizens shall be entitled to a universal pension equivalent to a monthly stipend of at least P1,000, regardless of any other pension benefits they may receive from other pension providers …”
However, this bill also provides that “any senior citizen may waive this universal pension.”
The bill provides, too, that the DSWD) shall, in consultation with the DBM, review and, if necessary, adjust the amount of universal pension every two (2) years after the full implementation of this Act, taking into account the various needs of senior citizens and relevant economic indicators as reported and published by pertinent government agencies …”
HB 2048 also states that the administration of this universal pension shall be transferred from the DSWD to the NCSC within 3 years from the effectivity of this Act.
According to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), there were 9,242,121 senior citizens as of 2020.
Other estimates have currently placed the number of Filipinos at a higher 11 million.
The NCFC reported that 8,831,089 Filipinos have registered as senior citizens on its official website as of end-October 2025.
