EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
o f: !f a  •'
S E N A T E
Senate Bill No. _ 259
•|9 ja - 8  P 2 •! 9
RECEIVED DY.
Introduced by Senator FRANCIS N. PANGILINAN
AN ACT
INCREASING THE MONTHLY SOCIAL PENSION OF SENIOR CITIZENS AND 
EXPANDING THE COVERAGE THEREOF, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE 
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7432, AS AMENDED
EXPLANATORY NOTE
When the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010 was signed into law, it provided 
for a social pension program for indigent senior citizens to supplement their daily 
subsistence. It gave some relief to three million of our elderly. However, a large 
proportion of vulnerable older people are still excluded from the program. In addition, 
the current monthly stipend for indigent senior citizens amounting to Five Hundred 
Pesos (Php 500.00) is no longer enough to augment their daily subsistence and other 
medical needs. Increase in the prices of basic commodities in the past five years has 
reduced the real value of the social pension. According to a 2017 study1, the purchasing 
power of the current benefit level has decreased to only Php 403 - a fall of 22% in real 
terms.
Thus, this measure seeks to increase the monthly social pension of senior citizens 
and expand its coverage to benefit all of the nation's elderly and ensure that all of the 
poorest older people are reached by the program. Not only will the State provide 
safeguards to protect the wellbeing of senior citizens, it will also recognize the vital role 
they play in nation-building.
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
FRANCIS
NGILINAN
H elpA ge International; Coalition of Services of the Elderly (2017). The Feasibility of a U niversal 
Social Pension in the Philippines (January 2017).


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
S E N A T E
Iff of t'lr 
f i - !'
•19 JUL-8 P2 ;19
Senate Bill No.
Introduced by Senator FRANCIS N. PANGILINAN
AN ACT
INCREASING THE MONTHLY SOCIAL PENSION OF SENIOR CITIZENS AND 
EXPANDING THE COVERAGE THEREOF, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE 
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7432, AS AMENDED
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled:
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SECTION 1. Section 2 of Republic Act No. 7432, as amended by Republic Act No. 
9257 and Republic 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 purposes of this Act, these terms are defined as 
follows:
"XXX
["(h) Indigent senior citizen refers to any elderly who is frail, sickly or with 
disability, and without pension or permanent source of income, compensation or 
financial assistance from his/her relatives to support his/her basic needs, as
determined by the Department of Social Welfare and-development (DSWD) in 
consultation with the National Coordinating and Monitoring-Board."]
"(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 
(PHP 1,000.00) PER MONTH."


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SEC. 2. Section 5 of the same Act, as amended, is hereby further amended to read
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as follows:
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'SEC. 5. Government Assistance. - The government shall provide the following: 
' X X X
'(h) Additional Government Assistance 
'(1) Social Pension
ALL senior citizens WITHOUT PENSION shall be entitled to a
monthly [stipend amounting- to- Five hundred -pesos (PhpSOO.OO)] SOCIAL 
PENSION OF AT LEAST ONE THOUSAND PESOS (PHP 1,000.00) to augment 
[the] THEIR daily subsistence and other medical needs, [of senior citizens, subject 
to a review every two (2) years by Congress, in consultation with the 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 
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.
"THE COVERAGE OF THE SOCIAL PENSION PROGRAM SHALL ALSO BE 
REVIEWED 
BY 
THE 
DSWD, 
IN 
CONSULTATION 
WITH 
THE 
DEPARTMENT OF BUDGET AND MANAGEMENT (DBM) AND OTHER 
RELEVANT STAKEHOLDERS, AND WHEN NECESSARY, ADJUSTED TO 
INCLUDE THOSE WHO ARE RECEIVING BELOW BASIC PENSION.


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"X X X."
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SEC. 3. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared invalid or
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unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected by such declaration shall remain in full
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force and effect.
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SEC. 4. Repealitig Clause. - All laws, executive orders, administrative orders, and
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rules and regulations inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or amended
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accordingly.
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SEC. 5. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
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complete publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general 
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circulation.
Approved,