P3,000 Monthly Pension for Farmers? Romualdez Files Landmark Bill to Give Them a 'Dignified Sunset'
Leyte Representative Ferdinand Martin Romualdez has filed House Bill No. 7663, or the "Comprehensive Farmers' Pension and Social Protection Act," which would give Filipino farmers a P3,000 monthly pension plus life, accident, and disability insurance. Co-authored by Tingog Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre, the bill aims to fill a huge gap — most farmers don't qualify for SSS or GSIS retirement benefits.
Romualdez stressed na maraming farmers ang walang formal retirement options, forcing them to keep working well past retirement age just to survive. "Because many farmers face low, variable incomes and often work past traditional retirement age due to financial necessity, pensions offer a guaranteed, regular income source," he said.
The bill covers three groups: elderly farmers aged 60 and above, disabled farmers with medically certified impairments, and indigent farmers classified by their local government units. "Farmer" is defined broadly to include anyone in crop production, livestock, or aquaculture — whether landowners, tenants, or workers.
On top of the monthly pension, the bill includes P50,000 in basic life insurance and up to P25,000 for accident and disability claims. Implementation would be a joint effort between the Department of Agriculture, DSWD, and the Philippine Crop Insurance Corp., with payouts accessible through local banks, cooperatives, or remittance centers.
To prevent abuse, the DA will establish a national database of eligible farmers, and anyone caught committing fraud faces up to one year in prison and fines up to P100,000. Public officials who violate the act face temporary disqualification from office on top of criminal sanctions.
Source: The Manila Times
Read full article
