Senior citizens organizations advocating for the passage of the Universal Social Pension bill remain hopeful that the Senate will act on the proposal that remain untouched by the committee chaired by Senator Imee Marcos, elder sister of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

This, despite the fact that Congress is left with only three session days to act on the measure which has yet to be deliberated upon by the Committee on Social Justice, Welfare and Rural Development.

In a press conference called by the Aksyon sa Pensyon Koalisyon (AKAP) on Monday (Jan. 27), leaders of five big senior groups took turns in assailing Sen. Marcos’ apparent refusal to act on the measure.

AKAP leaders lamented that the prayer rally staged by some 6,000 elderly Filipinos outside the Senate building on Jan. 22 failed to get both Marcos’ attention and commitment to launch committee hearings for the proposed measure.

Despite Marcos’ apparent snub, the AKAP appeared adamant at calling for a rejection of the lawmaker in her bid for re-election this coming May 12 polls.

“But Sen. Marcos has to do her job and show the 12 million senior citizens in the country that she concerned about their welfare,” said Floro Francisco of the Seniors for Seniors Associations Inc.

AKAP leaders vowed to continue to monitor the next remaining days of Senate sessions and react according to what it has achieved in granting the demand of elderly Filipinos.

“AKAP believes that a Universal Social Pension is an affordable and feasible social investment that is beneficial for the socio-economci development of the country” they said in a joint statement.

“And, a USP would recognize the lifelong contributions to nation-building of senior citizens throughout their lives,” the advocacy group stressed.

The AKAP declared: “For a life of dignity for all senior citizens and generations to come, a Universal Social Pension must be passed into law. Now Na!”

Salvacion Baciano of the National Anti-Poverty Commission-Senior Citizens Council decried Marcos’ inaction as she pointed out that USP bills have been languishing in her committee for years now.

“Come judgement day on May 12, we will remember you,” declared Baciano.

Former Councilor Jorge Banal Sr. , president of the Federation of Senior Citizens Associations of the Philippines-NCR, hinted politics as the reason behind the delayed Senate deliberation on the measure.

He pointed out that the Lower House was able to transmit the approved version of the bill last May 21, 2024 but no action was taken by the Senate since then.

The House version that consolidated ten various bills provided for a PHP500 monthly social pension for all Filipino senior citizens, except those already receiving the PHP1,000 monthly assistance under the Social Pension for Indigent Senior Citizens law.

Confederation of Older Persons Associations of the Philippines (COPAP) president Dioscoro Renalla stressed that lawmakers must realize that the PHP500 sought by elderly folk is not enough but will help them with their medical and basic needs.