Philippines, Feb. 10 -- The chairperson of the House Committee on Ways and Means on Monday said the government has the funds to sustain the proposed universal social pension for senior citizens.

Albay Rep. Joey Salceda urged the Senate to approve the bill granting PHP1,000 pension to all Filipino senior citizens, as he assured lawmakers that the program is fiscally sustainable.

"Ngayon po, ako na mismo ang nagsasabi sa Senado, na kaya po nating pondohan ang Universal Social Pension (Now, I myself am telling the Senate that we can fund the Universal Social Pension)," Salceda said in a statement.

Salceda, who also leads the House's Joint Committee on Senior Citizen and PWD (person with disability) Benefits, said he had spoken with Senato...