LAS Piñas Lone District Rep. Mark Anthony Santos today urged the public to remain vigilant against misleading posts and videos falsely claiming that the government has begun accepting applications for a Universal Social Pension for senior citizens.
Rep. Santos emphasized that the proposed Universal Social Pension for Senior Citizens, contained in House Bill No. 10423, has not yet been enacted into law.
“Marami nang nalilinlang dahil sa kumakalat na maling impormasyon lalo na papalapit na ang Pasko. Kailangan nating ituwid ang mga ito para hindi magdulot ng kalituhan o pananamantala,” Santos said. “The universal social pension program is not yet implemented. We owe our senior citizens accurate information.”
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC) have both issued advisories stressing the same point.
House Bill No. 10423 was approved by the House of Representatives on May 21, 2024, but must still secure Senate approval and the President’s signature before it can take effect.
Santos has also filed a bill that would provide all senior Filipino citizens a “universal social pension,” regardless if they are rich or poor.
House Bill 1296 or “Universal Social Pension Act” filed by the Las Piñas lawmaker proposes to amend Republic Act 9994 (Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010) by removing the indigency requirement that currently limits who may receive the government’s monthly pension.
Santos’ proposal seeks to extend the pension to all Filipinos aged 60 and above, who number an estimated 11 million as of this year, with adjustments to the amount based on inflation and prevailing living standards.
Santos also echoed warnings from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) which cautioned the public against fake websites, spoofed NCSC logos, and fraudulent announcements designed to appear official.
“Scammers are exploiting our senior citizens’ trust. We need to stop the spread of deceptive content and protect our elders from manipulation,” Santos added.
The assistant majority floor leader asked the government to combat misinformation more aggressively and to fast-track the legislative process to ensure that senior citizens eventually receive universal pension benefits guaranteed by law.
“Our seniors deserve clarity, protection, and support—not confusion and false promises,” he said. “I remain committed to pushing this measure forward until every Filipino senior citizen receives the pension they rightfully deserve.”
