Retirees’ bill gets support

MISAMIS Oriental Vice Governor Norris Babiera expressed support to a bill filed by Senator Francis Escudero that expand the pensions for retired government workers upon reaching the age of 70.

“I totally support that bill. I welcome any increases for the retirees. At least, this would be a big help to them,” he told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro.

Babiera also downplayed the importance of the Senior Citizens Law, citing that most retirees are senior citizens.

Escudero is pushing for the approval of Senate Bill 2106 or “An Act to Grant Monthly Pension to Government Retirees under RA 161 Who Have Reached the Age of Seventy Years.”

He said the proposal recognizes that majority of retirees has been living in abject poverty and many of them have to depend on dole-outs from close relatives and friends.

“Government personnel who retired need monthly pension because at their late age, their opportunities for earning are already almost none,” Escudero said.

Government pensioners are provided gratuity under Republic Act 1616.

However, Escudero said the law, which was enacted in 1957, can no longer sufficiently provide for the needs of government retirees five years after the retirement age of 65.

An employee of the Provincial Capitol who requested not to be named said he is happy with the proposed bill and hoped it will be enacted into law.

“Five years from now, I will retire and hopefully, that bill would become a law before I retire,” he said.