Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. 2048 
Introduced by HON. MIGUEL LUIS R. VILLAFUERTE, HON. VINCENZO 
RENATO LUIGI R. VILLAFUERTE, HON. TSUYOSHI ANTHONY G. HORIBATA, AND 
HON. TERRY L. RIDON 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Our senior citizens have contributed massively to nation-building. They have passed 
down generations of skills, knowledge, and wisdom that continue to shape our way of life. 
Moreover, they have preserved our rich traditions, cultural heritage, and customs. Even in old 
age, many of them remain active as members of local councils, church leaders, or 
professionals in their respective communities. 
In recognition of their importance and contributions, the government has enacted 
numerous laws such as Republic Act (RA) No. 7432 or the “Senior Citizens Act of 1992,” which 
laid the foundation for senior citizens’ rights and benefits; RA No. 9257 in 2003 and RA No. 
9994 in 2010, which amended and expanded these benefits; RA No. 10645, which mandated 
PhilHealth coverage for them; RA No. 11350, which created the National Commission of 
Senior Citizens; RA No. 7876, which mandated every city and municipality to establish their 
own Senior Citizens Centers that shall act as venues for recreational, health, and educational 
programs; and RA No. 11916 which institutionalized a social pension of at least P1,000 per 
month for indigent senior citizens. 
Despite these legislative measures, the current monthly social pension remains 
exclusionary. The inflation rate that leads to the rise in the cost of goods and services affects 
even those who are not officially classified as indigents. 
This proposed bill seeks to address the current limitations by ensuring all senior 
citizens, regardless of their social status, receive equal treatment from the government 
through a universal pension. It mandates a monthly stipend of P500 for senior citizens who 
are previously not considered as indigents. Within five years, this amount shall increase to a 
minimum of P1,000 per month to augment the daily subsistence and other medical needs of 
all senior citizens, whether receiving a pension from any pension provider. Moreover, the 
proposed bill introduces mechanisms for review of the pension amount every two years, based 
on economic indicators and cost of living adjustments. 
This is a refiled bill from the 19th Congress, and was approved on third and final 
reading and transmitted to the Senate. Thus, in light of the foregoing, the immediate passage 
of this bill is earnestly sought. 
July 16, 2025
6:17 pm


HON. MIGUEL LUIS R. VILLAFUERTE 
HON. VINCENZO RENATO LUIGI R. VILLAFUERTE 
HON. TSUYOSHI ANTHONY G. HORIBATA 
HON. TERRY L. RIDON 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. 2048 
Introduced by HON. MIGUEL LUIS R. VILLAFUERTE, HON. VINCENZO 
RENATO LUIGI R. VILLAFUERTE, HON. TSUYOSHI ANTHONY G. HORIBATA, AND 
HON. TERRY L. RIDON 
AN ACT GRANTING UNIVERSAL SOCIAL PENSION TO SENIOR CITIZENS, AMENDING 
FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7432, AS AMENDED, ENTITLED "AN ACT TO 
MAXIMIZE THE CONTRIBUTION OF SENIOR CITIZENS TO NATION BUILDING, GRANT 
BENEFITS AND SPECIAL PRIVILEGES AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES" 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. Section 2 of Republic Act No. 7432, as amended, is hereby further amended to 
read as follows: 
"SEC. 2. Definition of Terms. – For purposes of this Act, these terms are defined 
as follows: 
"(a) xxx 
    xxx 
"(i) Pension Provider refers to any government office or agency, or any private entity 
which provides pensions to entitled recipients on the basis of contributions, gratuity, 
or as mandated by any governing law or issuance, including the Social Security 
System (SSS), the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS, and the Pension 
and Gratuity Management Center (PGMC), AMONG OTHERS; and  
(j)
UNIVERSAL Social Pension refers to [the] A NON-CONTRIBUTORY
MONTHLY monetary grant from the government to support the daily subsistence
and medical needs of senior citizens [which shall not be less than One thousand
pesos (P1,000.00) per month]".
SECTION 2. Section 5(h)(1) of Republic Act No. 7432, as amended, is hereby further 
amended to read as follows: 
"SEC. 5. Government Assistance. – The government shall provide the 
following: 
"(a) xxx 
    xxx 


 
 
"(h) Additional Government Assistance 
 
"(1) [Mandatory] UNIVERSAL Social Pension 
 
(A) Indigent senior citizens shall be entitled to a monthly stipend amounting 
to [not less than] AT LEAST One thousand pesos (P1,000.00) to 
augment the daily subsistence and other medical needs [of senior 
citizens]. 
 
(B) SENIOR CITIZENS WHO ARE PREVIOUSLY NOT CONSIDERED AS 
INDIGENTS SHALL BE ENTITLED TO A MONTHLY STIPEND 
AMOUNTING TO AT LEAST FIVE HUNDRED PESOS (P500.00) UPON 
THE EFFECTIVITY OF THIS ACT: PROVIDED, THAT WITHIN FIVE (5) 
YEARS ALL SENIOR CITIZENS SHALL BE ENTITLED TO A 
UNIVERSAL SOCIAL PENSION EQUIVALENT TO A MONTHLY 
STIPEND OF AT LEAST ONE THOUSAND PESOS (P1,000.00) 
REGARDLESS OF ANY OTHER PENSION BENEFITS. THEY MAY 
RECEIVE FROM OTHER PENSION PROVIDERS: PROVIDED, 
FURTHER, THAT ANY SENIOR CITIZEN MAY WAIVE THIS 
UNIVERSAL SOCIAL PENSION. 
 
 
[The DSWD shall, subject to the approval of the Department of Budget and 
Management (DBM), in consultation with other stakeholders, review and, when 
necessary, adjust the amount of the social pension every two (2) years after the 
effectivity of this Act, taking into account the present consumer price index as 
published by the PSA and relevant economic indicators, as reported and 
published by pertinent government agencies and authorities.] 
 
"THE DSWD SHALL, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF 
BUDGET 
AND 
MANAGEMENT 
(DBM), 
AS 
WELL 
AS 
OTHER 
STAKEHOLDERS, REVIEW AND IF NECESSARY, ADJUST THE AMOUNT OF 
UNIVERSAL SOCIAL PENSION EVERY TWO (2) YEARS AFTER THE FULL 
IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS ACT, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE VARIOUS 
NEEDS OF SENIOR CITIZENS AND RELEVANT ECONOMIC INDICATORS, 
AS REPORTED AND PUBLISHED BY PERTINENT GOVERNMENT AGENCIES 
AND AUTHORITIES: PROVIDED, THAT THE SOCIAL PENSION SHALL NOT 
BE LESS THAN THE AMOUNT INITIALLY SPECIFIED IN THIS ACT. THE 
IMPLEMENTATION, DISTRIBUTION, AND MANAGEMENT OF THE SOCIAL 
PENSION SHALL BE TRANSFERRED FROM THE DSWD TO THE NATIONAL 
COMMISSION OF SENIOR CITIZENS (NCSC) WITHIN A PERIOD NOT 
EXCEEDING THREE (3) YEARS FROM THE EFFECTIVITY OF THIS ACT. 
 
"xxx." 
 
SECTION 3. Appropriations. – The universal social pension for senior citizens shall be 
added to the regular appropriations of the DSWD in the general appropriations act, and 
thereafter, to the National Commission of Senior Citizens, upon full transfer of the 
implementation, distribution, and management of the social pension. 
 
SECTION 4. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within ninety (90) days from the 
effectivity of this Act, the Chairperson of the National Commission of Senior Citizens shall 
formulate and adopt amendments to the existing rules and regulations implementing Republic 


 
Act No. 11916 to carry out the objectives of this Act, in consultation with other relevant 
agencies and stakeholders. 
 
SECTION 5. Separability Clause. – If any provision of this Act is declared unconstitutional or 
invalid, other parts or provisions hereof not affected shall continue to be in full force and effect. 
 
SECTION 6. Repealing Clause. – Republic Act No. 7432, as amended by Republic Act Nos. 
9257 and 9994, otherwise known as the "Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010", and Republic 
Act No. 11916 are hereby amended. All other laws, ordinances, orders, rules, regulations and 
other issuances or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed, 
amended or modified accordingly. 
 
SECTION 7. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in 
the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
 
 
Approved,