The Senior Citizen Party-list, in its last-ditch effort, appeals for P26.474 billion from 2023 unprogrammed funds.
The Senior Citizen Partylist appealed to President Marcos, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and the bicameral conference committee for the 2023 national budget for P26.474-billion budget to fund the pension of indigent senior citizens and centenarians.
“Please have mercy on over 4 million indigent seniors by sourcing from the unprogrammed funds approximately P25,768,665,000 to implement the P500 increase in seniors' social pension pursuant to RA 11916 and the P70.4 million needed for 704 unfunded cash grants for waitlisted centenarians. The total we plead for is P26.474 billion.” Rep. Rodolfo Ordanes said.
The unprogrammed funds are the final resort for the poor elderly and centenarians since for some, they mean the difference between life and death.
The amount sought, P26.474 billion is only 4.5 percent of the P588.162 billion unprogrammed funds in the proposed 2023 national budget. This budget goes directly to indigent seniors.
Ordanes and his party-list are duty-bound and morally-obligated to fight for the seniors until the end of the budget cycle. The Congress must make good on its commitments made in the Centenarians Act and Republic Act (RA) 11916.
“The unprogrammed funds is the remaining option left to us.” Ordanes said.
It is only just to repay the elderly who are in need because they have put out so much work throughout their entire life and sacrificed the prime years of their lives for their family and country.
Tags: #SeniorCitizen, #Funds, #Pension