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EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
H. No. 2868

Introduced by Representative Raul C. Tupas

AN ACT INCREASING THE MONTHLY SOCIAL PENSION OF SENIOR CITIZENS
AND EXPANDING THE COVERAGE THEREOF

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The 1987 Constitution provides under Sec. 11 of Article 13 that, “The State shall adopt
an integrated and comprehensive approach to health development which shall endeavor to
make essential goods, health and other social services available to all the people at affordable
Cost. There shall be priority for the needs of the underprivileged sick, elderly, disabled, women,
and children.” It further provides under Section 4, Article XV that, “The family has the duty to
are for its elderly members but the State may also do so through just programs of social
security.”

This proposed measure seeks to amend Republic Act No. 9994 or the Expanded
Senior Citizens Act of 2010 in order to a) increase the amount of social pension that our senior
citizens are receiving from Php500 per month to Php1,000, and b) expand the coverage of
beneficiaries to include those without any form of pension.

According to a study published by the Coalition of Services of the Elderly (COSE) on
Universal Social Pension, over half of senior citizens or at least 54 percent receive no pension
at all. Most senior citizens have to look to their families for financial support in old age.
However, this is often too limited because of widespread poverty and vulnerability amongst
Filipino families. .

‘The expansion of a social pension is seen not only as a way to enable older persons
to live a dignified life where they can meet their own needs, but also to extend aid to their
families in dire need of financial help.’

This bill will provide social protection to 5 million vulnerable senior citizens as well as

much needed aid in terms of income augmentation. Hence, immediate approval of this bill is
earnestly sought.

RAUL "BOBQW” C. TPPAS,

* COSE Universal Social Pension: Feasibility in the Philippines: Preliminary Findings |



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EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
H.No, 2868

Introduced by Representative Raul C. Tupas

AN ACT INCREASING THE MONTHLY SOCIAL PENSION OF SENIOR CITIZENS AND
EXPANDING THE COVERAGE THEREOF

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

SECTION 1. Section 2 of Republic Act No. 7432, as amended by Republic Act No. 9257 and
Repubiic Act No. 9994, otherwise known as the “Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010", is
hereby further amended to read as follows:

“Sec. 2. Definition of Terms. — For the purposes of this Act, these terms are
defined as follows:

XXX

“(h) SOCIAL PENSION REFERS TO THE MONTHLY STIPEND OR
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
(PHP1,000.00) PER MONTH.”

SECTION 2. Section 5 of the same Act, as amended, is hereby further amended to read as
follows:

“Sec. 5. Government Assistance. - The government shall provide the
following:
“Xxx”


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“(h) Additional Government Assistance
(i) Social Pension

[Indigent] ALL senior Rees Late feat piel be entitled to
a monthly [ PROUA e-hundred-pese ]
PENSION OF AT LEAST ONE THOUSAND PESOS (PHP, 000.00) to
augment the cay Geom Bo) other We eae of senior
citizens [ -subjec e ° eRgress
coneultaton-with DSWD),

“THE AMOUNT OF SOCIAL PENSION SHALL BE REVIEWED AND,
WHEN NECESSARY, ADJUSTED OR INCREASED BY THE DSWD
EVERY TWO (2) 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 CONSUMER PRICE INDEX, 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.

XX."

SECTION 3. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared invalid or
unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected thereby shall continue to be in full
force and effect.

SECTION 4, Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders or rules and
fegulations contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this” Act are hereby
repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 5. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
Publication in the Official Gazette or in any newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,