Senators laud the new law granting an additional PHP500 monthly allowance to senior citizens calling it a legacy of the 18th Congress.
The bill doubling the amount of monthly social pension of the indigent senior citizens was allowed by the Marcos administration to lapse into law as Republic Act (RA) 11916.
“Today is a testament to this abounding blessing because one of the ‘happy bills’, as you put it, Mr. President, which we have passed in the 18th Congress, is now a law,’’ Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva said.
The new law was among over the 100 bills that lapsed into law under the Marcos administration.
“Let me add that among the laws we deliberated in the last Congress, this is the most memorable because we caught Covid-19 while discussing this measure,” Senate President Migz Zubiri said.
’’As the saying goes, ‘We will all grow old one day.’ Another year has been added to my life today, and all the more we see the need to care for our ageing population, especially our beloved senior citizens,’’ Villanueva added.
The lawmaker expects funding for the law coming from the revenues of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) and firms operating under the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO).
The Finance Department expects P78 billion collection from POGO.
