MANILA, Philippines — A new legislative measure in the House of Representatives is seeking to provide a ₱3,000 monthly pension for the country’s aging and disabled farmers, aiming to provide a safety net for one of the nation’s most vulnerable yet essential sectors.
House Bill No. 7663, or the “Comprehensive Farmers’ Pension and Social Protection Act,” was filed by Leyte 1st District Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez alongside Tingog Party-list Representatives Yedda Marie Romualdez, Andrew Julian Romualdez, and Jude Acidre. The bill proposes a non-contributory monthly pension for qualified small farmers who are often excluded from formal retirement systems like the Social Security System (SSS) or the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS).
“The creation of a pension program for qualified elderly farmers is crucial for providing financial security, reducing poverty, and ensuring a decent standard of living in their later years,” the authors stated in the bill’s explanatory note. They noted that many farmers are forced to work well past the traditional retirement age of 60 due to financial necessity and lack of consistent income.
Key Provisions of the Bill:
- Monthly Pension: A ₱3,000 monthly stipend for farmers aged 60 and above, provided they are not currently receiving any other pension.
- Insurance Coverage: The bill includes basic life insurance of at least ₱50,000 and accident/disability assistance of up to ₱25,000 per claim.
- Target Beneficiaries: Focuses on “elderly,” “indigent,” and “disabled” farmers. A disabled farmer is defined as one with a medically certified impairment that prevents them from performing habitual farm work.
- National Database: The Department of Agriculture (DA), in coordination with the DSWD and PhilSys, is mandated to establish a national database to ensure targeted delivery of benefits and prevent “leakages” or duplication in assistance.
- Implementation: The program would be jointly managed by the DA, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and the Philippine Crop Insurance Corp (PCIC).
The bill also includes strict penalties for fraud, with violators facing up to one year of imprisonment or fines up to ₱100,000. Public officials found guilty of inserting false data into the beneficiary database would face additional administrative sanctions and disqualification from holding office.
Proponents of the measure argue that this pension is not just an act of charity but a necessary recognition of the “food warriors” who have sustained the country’s food security for decades with little to no financial security for their own futures.