SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) Frid
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) &
Third Regular Session )

18 JUL 18 AIO19
SENATE

exo 1880p

Introduced by SENATOR LEILA M. DE LIMA

AN ACT
PROVIDING MONTHLY LIVING PENSION TO QUALIFIED
SENIOR CITIZENS AND AMENDING FOR THIS PURPOSE R.A. NO.
7432, AS AMENDED BY R.A. NO. 9994, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE
EXPANDED SENIOR CITIZENS ACT OF 2010

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Article II, Section 4 of the 1987 Constitution provides that “[t]he State values
the dignity of every human person and guarantees full respect for human rights”.

Article XV, Section 4 of the same also provides that, “[t]he family has the duty
to care for its elderly members but the State may also do so through just programs of
social security”.

Filipinos are recognized as often more likely to look after aging family
members, ' and the above State policies echo said values and articulate the
responsibility that the State assumes in developing programs to support the elderly
through empowering strategies.

Inthe Philippines, there are more than 7 million senior citizens, of whom more
than 1 million live in poverty3, 329,000 are persons with disability, and about 2.5
million are womens. These figures strongly suggest that senior citizens belong to
sectors that expose them to vulnerabilities of ageism, defined by the World Health
Organization as the stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination against people on the

4 https://www.rappler.com/move-ph/balikbayan/71471-taking-care-elderly
2 NSA May 2018 National Quickstat

3 http://ageingasia.org/ageing-population-philippines/

4 hsps://psa.gov.ph/content/senior-iizen-comprsed-six-percent-population
5k



basis of their age. There are of course ways in which to address these challenges and
the most concrete initiative is to enact legislative measures that can respond to specific

areas of concern.

While the Philippines is a growing middle-income country according to the
World Bankr, there are not a lot of employment opportunities for senior citizens,
leaving them financially insecure and largely dependent on their families.

This bill therefore seeks to increase the monthly stipend currently provided to
senior citizens under Section 5(h)(1) of R.A. No. 9994, converting it to a living pension,
which seeks to provide the much needed assistance in addition to discounts on
purchases and fees for services presently available to senior citizens. However, due to
the limited nature of the government resources, this bill also seeks to more clearly
define the qualified beneficiaries to ensure that this legislation only benefits those who
truly need them.

While the amount of assistance provided in this bill may not fully cover the
expenses of our qualified senior citizens in light of ever rising prices of commodities,
it can still significantly contribute to enabling our senior citizens to live dignified lives.

4--
LE{LA M. DE LI

6 See, WHO “Ageism”, available at <http://www.who,int/ageing/ageism/en/> accessed on June 07, 2018.
7. http://www.worldbank.org/en/country/philippines/overview



we wn

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
Third Regular Session )

“8 WL 18 AD-9

pe

SENATE
s.No, 1880

Introduced by SENATOR LEILA M. DE LIMA

AN ACT
PROVIDING MONTHLY LIVING PENSION TO QUALIFIED
SENIOR CITIZENS AND AMENDING FOR THIS PURPOSE R.A. NO.
7432, AS AMENDED BY R.A. NO. 9994, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE
EXPANDED SENIOR CITIZENS ACT OF 2010

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

SECTION 1. Section 5 (h) (1) of Republic Act No. 7432, as amended by
Republic Act No. 9994, otherwise known as the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010,
is hereby further amended as follows:

“SEC. 5. Government Assistance. - The government shall provide the

following:

XxX
(h) Additional Government Assistance
(2) Social Pension

“[Indigent] Senior citizens WHO QUALIFY UNDER THIS
SECTION shall be entitled to a monthly [stipend] LIVING
PENSION amounting to [Five hundred-pesos-(Php500-00)}} TWO
THOUSAND PESOS (P?2,000.00) to augment [the] THEIR
daily subsistence and other medical needs, subject to inflationary
adjustment review every three (3) years by Congress, in consultation
with the DSWD.



22
2B
24
25
26
2
28
29

1. SENIOR CITIZEN IS NO LONGER ABLE TO WORK
DUE TO AGE, DEBILITATING PHYSICAL, MENTAL OR
PSYCHOLOGICAL CONDITIONS;

2. SENIOR CITIZEN IS UNDERGOING TREATMENT
FOR DISEASE SUCH AS BUT NOT LIMITED TO
VARIOUS TYPES OF CANCER, CARDIOVASCULAR
DISEASES, AND OTHER EXISTING LIFE-
THREATENING DISEASES; OR

3. SENIOR CITIZEN WHO SERVED IN GOVERNMENT,
EITHER CIVIL SERVICE OR MILITARY, FOR AT LEAST
TEN (0) YEARS, AND LEFT EMPLOYMENT
VOLUNTARILY.

PROVIDED THAT, BENEFITS UNDER NO. 2 ABOVE
SHALL APPLY NOTWITHSTANDING THE DISCOUNTS
ALREADY PROVIDED FOR UNDER EXISTING LAWS.

PROVIDED FINALLY THAT, THOSE WHO ARE
RECEIVING PENSION UNDER THE SOCIAL SECURITY
SYSTEM OR THE GOVERNMENT SERVICE
INSURANCE SYSTEM SHALL NOT BE ENTITLED TO
THIS SUPPORT FOR THE FIRST THREE YEARS FROM
THE EFFECTIVITY OF THIS ACT.”

Sec. 2. Repealing Clause. - All laws, executive orders, presidential decrees,
presidential proclamations, letters of instruction, rules and regulations or parts
thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or
modified accordingly.

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



Sec. 4. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its
publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation in
the Philippines.

Approved,