DSWD fully supportive of Universal Social Pension bill – Gatchalian

MANILA – Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian has assured that the agency fully supports the enactment of House Bill (HB) No. 10423 or the Universal Social Pension Bill.

"One, it's fair. We are fully supportive of it and it will certainly make our lives so much simpler. We understand that concept to make more people productive in a sense," Gatchalian said during the deliberation of the agency's 2025 budget at the House of Representatives on Wednesday.

HB 10423 seeks to make the government's free social pension available to all senior citizens.

Marikina 2nd District Rep. Stella Quimbo noted that senior citizens often provide childcare to younger members of the family and give way for the productivity of other household-members in exchange.

Gatchalian agreed with Quimbo that amending the exclusivity of social pension to indigent beneficiaries is likely to encourage a competitive working force.

"It's a whole cycle of going back to the economy anyway. We agree with it, madam chair. If we put it this way, it's an investment towards making our people more productive, our able-bodied or younger set of people be productive part of the workforce," the DSWD chief said.

During the DSWD budget deliberation, Gatchalian defended against late pension payout issues, citing liquidation problems of partner-local government units (LGUs) as a common cause of the delay.

He said the agency is considering adapting the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program's (4Ps) grant disbursement system where the grants were credited directly to the transacting beneficiaries.

This option, however, remains under careful study in consideration of the preference, convenience, and concerns of senior citizens commonly attributed to physical restrictions, unfamiliarity, and hesitance with banking transactions, he said.

"It's something on the horizon but we are studying it carefully kung makakabuti sa ating mga seniors or makakasama (whether or not it is good for our seniors)," Gatchalian said.

He cited the comments of the elderly in Valenzuela City where many of them prefer to receive their pension in cash. (PNA)