Pacquiao wants free hospitalization for seniors, houses for poor

Presidential aspirant Senator Manny Pacquiao (PNA photo file photo)

MANILA – Presidential aspirant Senator Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao vowed to provide free housing units, full hospitalization coverage for senior citizens, and livelihood opportunities for poor Filipinos if he wins the May 9 elections.

In his Leyte sortie on Thursday, Pacquiao said he will also push to increase the elderlies’ monthly social pension up to PHP2,000.

Under Section 5 of Republic Act 9994 otherwise known as the “Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010,” indigent senior citizens are entitled to a monthly stipend amounting to PHP500 from the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

It aims to augment the daily subsistence and other medical needs of indigent senior citizens.

If elected, Pacquiao said he will also push for free housing units and livelihood assistance for underprivileged people.

“That housing program, for your information, I already started that before entering politics. Thousands of families have benefitted from that. I’m not just giving house and lot, you will not pay even a single peso, also I am giving livelihood assistance they can use for daily expenses,” he said during a motor caravan in San Juan, Southern Leyte.

Aside from livelihood and housing programs, Pacquiao said he has been assisting thousands of students to fulfill their education.

“We have done that already. That’s my promise, but I already fulfilled my promise. Opposite from other politicians who keep on promising but have done nothing,” he said.

Even if he loses his presidential bid, Pacquiao said he will still help his fellow Filipinos. (PNA)

Join our 3 x a week Philippines News, Travel and Expat information newsletter and keep up to date. https://aseannow.com/newsletter.php