The Senior Citizen party-list has promised to fund the increase in indigent elderlies’ pension under the proposed 2023 national budget.
In a statement on Monday, Senior Citizen party-list Representative and Chair of Committee on Senior Citizens Rodolfo “Ompong” Ordanes expressed his disappointment in the Department of Budget and Management’s (DBM) claim that the P24.5 billion necessary for a full year’s funding of the P500 hike in the pension for indigent senior citizens is not programmed under the 2023 budget.
“Nalungkot ako nang malaman at makumpirma sa press briefing kanina dito sa Kamara na hindi kasama sa proposed 2023 budget ang increase sa indigent seniors’ pension,” he said.
The reason it was not included in the appropriations, according to the Budget department, is that the measure permitting the raise only became effective after the 2023 Budget Call was finished.
The DBM is referring to Republic Act 11916, which increased the monthly pension for indigent elderly from P500 to P1,000.
Thus, Ordanes said he will examine the proposed budget to find the P24.5 billion seniors will need next year by looking into the utilization rates of the departments and agencies.
“This means there is some elbow room within the budget to get parts of the P24.5 from anticipated unutilized funds,” he added.
According to DBM, a line agency’s utilization rate illustrates its ability to disburse funds and execute projects and programs on time.
“Bubusisiin ko ang budget para mahanap saan kukunin ang P24.5 billion. Committment na kasi ito ng Kongreso dahil naging batas na ang pagdoble sa indigent seniors social pension to P1,000 per month. Hindi tayo pwedeng magkulang dito because these are urgent and crucial needs of seniors for their daily survival,” Ordanes stressed.
To assuage seniors, who expect their pension would increase next year, the lawmaker added that he will inquire with the DBM as to whether there are savings that might be allocated for the social pension at least in the fourth quarter of this year.
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