By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian has expressed full support for the passage of House Bill No. 10423, also known as the Universal Social Pension Bill.
Gatchalian made this endorsement during the deliberation on the agency’s proposed 2025 budget on Wednesday, August 21, 2024.
House Bill No. 10423 aims to extend the government’s free social pension to all senior citizens.
“It’s fair. We are fully supportive of it, and it will certainly make our work much simpler. We understand the concept and believe it will make more people productive in a sense,” Gatchalian said in response to a query from Marikina 2nd District Rep. Stella Quimbo regarding the DSWD’s position on the bill.
Quimbo pointed out that many senior citizens contribute to their families by providing childcare, allowing other household members to be more productive.
Gatchalian also addressed concerns raised by United Senior Citizens party-list Rep. Milagros Magsaysay about delays in pension payouts. He attributed the delays to liquidation issues with partner-local government units (LGUs).
He further revealed that the DSWD is considering adopting the disbursement system used in the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), where grants are credited directly to the beneficiaries.
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