NCSC Backs ‘1 Million Signatures’ Campaign to Fast-Track Universal Social Pension Bill

The National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC) has expressed full support for the “Isang Milyong Lagda para sa Matatanda” campaign, which seeks to fast-track the passage of the proposed Universal Social Pension Bill.

The campaign, which initially turned over 17,000 signatures from the 2nd District of Marikina, has since gained significant momentum, reaching nearly 200,000 signatures as of 18 March 2026.

During the formal turnover of collected signatures at the House, NCSC Chairperson and CEO Atty. Ma. Merceditas N. Gutierrez expressed the Commission’s commitment to rallying both lawmakers and the public behind the measure.

Atty. Gutierrez emphasized that the campaign reflects the growing clamor of senior citizens for inclusive social protection and noted that the measure is timely and urgent amid rising fuel costs and economic challenges.

“By establishing a universal pension that is a non-contributory monthly monetary grant, the law will finally erase the discriminatory lines drawn between the ‘indigent’ and the ‘pensioner,’” Atty. Gutierrez said.

The campaign calls for the measure to be prioritized under the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., which will benefit an estimated 11 million senior citizens nationwide.

NCSC Acting Executive Director Ana Marie C. Calapit joined the launch of the campaign on Wednesday, 18 March 2026, and conveyed the strong appeal of the senior citizens’ sector for the swift passage of the bill.

“Matagal na pong hinihintay ng ating mga mahal na senior citizens ang Universal Social Pension. Handa ang NCSC na tumulong sa pamamahagi nito sakaling maisabatas ito,” Director Calapit said.

United Senior Citizens Party-list Representative Milagros Aquino-Magsaysay, who chairs the House Committee on Senior Citizens, led the call for strong campaign support and emphasized the urgency of advancing the measure.

“Hopefully, lahat ng mga colleagues ko at members ng Senior Citizens Committee ay magtulong-tulong para sa signature campaign at maka-gather ng 1 million upang gawing priority bill [ito] ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr.,” Rep. Magsaysay said.

The proposed measure was approved by the House Committee on Senior Citizens in 2025 and is now under deliberation by the Committee on Appropriations to determine the necessary funding before submission to the House plenary. ■