Manila, Aug. 27 -- A bill filed in the Senate seeks to expand the coverage of the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010 and increase the monthly social pension for qualified senior citizens to PHP1,000.

Senate Bill 269 proposes a PHP1,000 monthly social pension for senior citizens who do not receive a social pension or whose existing pension does not exceed PHP3,000.

The measure seeks to provide qualified seniors with a regular and predictable source of income for everyday expenses, medical needs, and emergencies.

"As we grow older, it becomes more difficult to generate income. Many of our lolos and lolas face barriers to staying employed after the age of 60 due to physical limitations, age-based discrimination, or the lack of opportun...