Manila, May 25 -- Speaker Faustino "Bojie" Dy III on Monday backed the growing push to institutionalize a Universal Social Pension for senior citizens, saying the country has a moral obligation to protect all elderly Filipinos who spent their lives sacrificing for their families and the nation.

Speaking at the turnover of the initial batch of signatures of the "Labing-Dalawang Milyong Lagda para sa Matatanda (12 Million Signatures for the Elderly)" signature campaign at the House of Representatives, Dy said millions of Filipinos are now calling for stronger support for senior citizens struggling with rising medicine, healthcare and costs of living.

"Naniniwala po ako na ang tunay na paglilingkod ay nagsisimula sa pakikinig, pag-unawa, ...