Os

PRESS).

Republic of the Philippines

[sy GS
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES / S° RECEIVED 2)

Constitution Hills, Quezon City | 2

oar

Second Regular Session

6937

House Bill No.

Introduced by Rep. ERIC L. OLIVAREZ

EXPLANATORY NOTE

It has been seven years since Congress enacted Republic Act 9994 or the “Expanded
Senior Citizens Act of 2010” amending Republic Act 7432 as amended, otherwise known as
“An Act to Maximize the Contribution of Senior Citizens to Nation Building, Grant Benefits
and Special Privileges and For Other Purposes” giving more benefits for our senior citizens,

As stated in Section | of R.A. 7432 as amended further by R.A. 9994, itis the “policy
of the State to promote a just and dynamic social order that will ensure the prosperity and
independence of the nation and free the people from poverty through policies that provide
adequate social services, promote full employment, a rising standard of living and an
improved quality of life.” The same law reiterates the Constitutional provisions stating that
the priority of the State is to address the needs of the under privilege, sick, elderly, disabled,
women and children; and the State may design programs of social security for senior citizens,

R.A. 9994 provides that a social pension be granted to indigent senior citizens as an
additional government program and should be reviewed biennially by Congress, and as
aforementioned, Congress has not made any review in the past seven (7) years. Thus making
it imperative for Congress to look into the said program, especially the amount provided for
in the law in view of the inflation rate for the past seven years.

However, indigent senior citizens are not the only sector of senior citizens that need
assistance to cope up with rising costs of health services and supplies, and other social
services. Even those that are receiving pension from GSIS or SSS, have a source of income
oF support from families or relatives are also experiencing erosion of their economic capacity
to cope up with the increase in cost of living for an elderly person. They also need assistance
from government.

Furthermore, it is also high time that government and as society recognizes the
significant contributions to the country made by our senior citizens. In their old age and
frailty of body and mind, senior citizens whether indigent, lower income and middle income
are all vulnerable to sudden changes in prices and cost of living, giving them more stressors.

:



This measure intends to expand the coverage of the social pension program as
Provided for by R.A. 9994 through amending the law and increasing the amount to be
received by the senior citizens in a socialized manner by providing a proviso that the amount
to be received by indigent senior citizens should be at least doubled the amount received by
other senior citizens.

In view of the foregoing, the passage of this measure is earnestly sought.

end. oN,

ERIC L, OLIVAREZ


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Constitution Hills, Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH (174) CONGRESS

Second Regular Session

6937

House Bill No.

Introduced by Rep. ERIC L. OLIVAREZ

AN ACT EXPANDING THE COVERAGE OF THE SENIOR CITIZENS
PENSION PROGRAM AND INCREASING ITS AMOUNT, FURTHER
AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO, 7432, AS AMENDED, OTHERWISE
KNOWN AS “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. Objectives. ~ The objectives of this act is to expand the coverage of the
Senior citizen pension program and increase the amount received by the senior citizens as
defined in R.A. 9994 otherwise known as the “Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010"

Section 2. Expanding the Coverage of the Senior Citizen Social Pension. ~ Section 5,
Paragraph (h), sub-paragraphs (1) and (2) of R.A. 7432 as amended by R.A. 9257 and further
amended by R.A. 9994 otherwise known as the “Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010” is
hereby further amended to read as follows:

“Sec. 5. Government Assistance, ~ The government shall provide the following:
XXX

“(h) Additional Government Assistance

“(1) Social Pension

“AIL senior citizens shall be entitled to a monthly stipend amounting to One thousand
Pesos (Php 1,000.00) to augment the daily subsistence and other medical needs of

senior citizens, subject to review of every two (2) years by DSWD and shall propose
to Congress reasonable adjustments.


However, indigent senior citizens shall be entitled to twice the aforementioned
amount or amount granted to non-indigent senior citizens and shall be subject to
adjustments due to inflation in accordance with the guidelines to be issued by the
DSWD.

XXX

Section 3. Appropriations. ~ The amount necessary to effectively carry out the initial
implementation of this Act shall be sourced from the current budget of the DSWD.
Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for the continued implementation of this Act shall
be included in the succeeding General Appropriations Act.

Section 4. Jmplementing Rules and Regulations. ~ Within ninety (90) days after the
effectivity of this Act, the Department of Social Work and Development (DSWD) shall
promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the proper implementation of this Act.

Section 5. Repealing Clause, ~ All law, executive orders, rules and regulations or any
part hereof inconsistent herewith are deemed repealed or modified accordingly.

Section 6. Separability Clause. ~ If any part or provision of this Act shall be declared
unconstitutional and invalid, such declaration shall not invalidate other parts thereof which
shall remain in full force and effect.

Section 7. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days its complete
Publication n the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation,

whichever comes earlier.

Approved,