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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Quezon City, Metro Manila

TWENTIETH CONGRESS,
First Regular Session

House Bill No,__199

Introduced by REPRESENTATIVE GERALD CLOYD ALEXIS V. GALANG

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Aging populations are emerging as a significant economic challenge in the
Philippines and globally, affecting both individuals and society as a whole, According to
the Philippine Statistics Authority projections, the number of Filipinos aged 60 and above
is projected to triple over the next three decades, from 7.6 million in 2015 to 22.6 million
by 2045. This demographic shift intensifies the urgency of ensuring stable income sources
for older adults, particularly in tackling poverty and inequality. Social protection programs
for seniors are widely recognized as effective tools for reducing poverty rates and
narrowing economic disparities. Pension systems, in particular. foster inclusive growth by
distributing the financial burden of an aging population across broader society.

The current social pension program for indigent senior citizens partially alleviates
daily hardships by supplementing expenses for food and healthcare. However. its
effectiveness is constrained by two key limitations: the exclusion of many vulnerable
elderly individuals from eligibility criteria and the inadequacy of the monthly stipend,
which remains fixed at PHP 500. Without reforms to expand coverage and increase
benefits, the program risks falling short of addressing the evolving needs of a rapidly aging
population.

Aging brings numerous challenges, both physical and economic, which become far
more severe in societies where poverty is widespread. These struggles not only compound
cone another but are also deeply intensified by systemic inequality. A pension system for
seniors could address this crisis by ensuring financial stability, covering essentials like food
and healthcare, and alleviating pressure on low-income families. Beyond immediate relief,
such a policy would act as a mechanism to redistribute economic progress more equitably
across generations. Honoring the sacrifices and contributions of our elders demands that
younger generations guarantee them a life of dignity in old age

Given the critical need to address the challenges facing our aging population, there
is an urgent call for the immediate passage of this bill

2" Legislative District, City of Valenzuela



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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

4
House Bill No. 155

Introduced by REPRESENTATIVE GERALD CLOYD ALEXIS V. GALANG

AN ACT
GRANTING SOCIAL PENSION TO ALL SENIOR CITIZENS AGED 65 YEARS
OLD AND ABOVE, AMENDING FOR THIS PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO.
7432, AS AMENDED

Be it enacted by the Senate und House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Social Pension of
Senior Citizens Act.”

SEC. 2. Section 2 of Republic Act No. 7432, as amended by Republic Act No.
9257, further amended by Republic Act. 9994, otherwise known as the “Expanded Senior
Citizen Act of 2010”, is hereby further amended to read as follows:

“Sec. 2. Definition of Terms. - For this Act, these terms are defined as follows:
XXX XXX XXX

“(i) SOCIAL PENSION REFERS TO THE MONTHLY STIPEND
MONETARY GRANT FROM THE GOVERNMENT TO AUGMENT THE
DAILY SUBSISTENCE AND OTHER MEDICAL NEEDS OF SENIOR
CITIZENS, WHICH SHALL NOT BE LESS THAN ONE THOUSAND PESOS
(Php 1000.00) PER MONTH.

SEC. 3. Section 5 of the same Act, as amended, is hereby further amended to read as
follows:

XXX XXX, XXX

“(h) Additional Government Assistance

“(1) Social Pension

“[Indigent] ALL senior citizens 65 YEARS OLD AND ABOVE SHALL
BE ENTITLED TO A MONTHLY SOCIAL PENSION OF AT LEAST ONE
THOUSAND PESOS (Php 1,000.00) to augment the daily subsistence and other
medical needs of senior citizens.

INDIGENT SENIOR CITIZENS AGED SIXTY (60) YEARS OLD TO
SIXTY-FOUR (64) YEARS OLD SHALL BE ENTITLED TO A MONTHLY

2


SOCIAL PENSION OF AT LEAST ONE THOUSAND PESOS (PHP! ,000.00)
to augment the daily subsistence and other medical needs of senior citizens.

The amount of social pension SHALL BE REVIEWED AND, when
necessary, ADJUSTED OR INCREASED BY THE DSWD every two years after
the effectivity of this act, in consultation with the DEPARTMENT OF BUDGET
AND MANAGEMENT (DBM) AND OTHER RELEVANT
STAKEHOLDERS, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE VARIOUS NEEDS OF
SENIOR CITIZENS, THE NATIONAL INFLATION RATE, AND OTHER
RELEVANT ECONOMIC INDICATORS, as reported and published by the
pertinent government agencies or authorities: PROVIDED, THAT THE SOCIAL
PENSION SHALL NOT BE LESS THAN THE AMOUNT INITIALLY
SPECIFIED IN THIS ACT.

FIVE YEARS AFTER THE EFFECTIVITY OF THIS ACT, ALL SENIOR
CITIZENS SHALL BE ENTITLED TO A MONTHLY SOCIAL PENSION AT
THE PREVAILING RATE, WHICH SHALL NOT BE LESS THAN ONE
THOUSAND PESOS(PHPI,000.00) to augment the daily subsistence and other
medical needs of senior citizens.

XXX XXX XXX

SEC. 4, Separability Clause. — \f any provision of this Act is declared invalid or
unconstitutional, the remaining provisions, which are not affected, shall continue to be in

full force and effect.

SEC. 5. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, executive orders, or rules and
regulations contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed

or modified accordingly

SEC. 6. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen ( 15) days afier its publication

in the Official Gazerte or in a newspaper of general circulation

Approved,