Republic of the Philippines aN
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Quezon City, Metro Manila

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fs” RECEIVED
owre21 FEB 2016

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. _'7222

Introduced by HON. ROMERO “MIRO” S. QUIMBO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Projections by the Population Commission (POPCOM) based on the 2015
Census of Population from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) places the
number of Filipinos senior citizens as of 2018 at 8 million'. This sector is one
of the most vulnerable due to increased health risks as well as decreased
capacity to earn income for their everyday needs.

While pension along with other benefits and privileges are granted to the
sector through the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) and Social
Security System (SSS) as well as the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010
(RA No. 7432 as amended by RA No. 9994), social security provided by the
State remain beyond the reach of many senior citizens.

The SSS and the GSIS currently provide pension primarily to senior citizens
who were salaried employees from the formal sector. The Social Pension
Program under the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010, as implemented by
the Department of Social Welfare and Development, meanwhile, provides
pension only to qualified, indigent senior citizens, with the program's system
for determining such qualified indigents often being criticized for inefficiency
and irregularities. This leaves a significant portion of senior citizens,
particularly those from the informal sector, without social pension.

By expanding the coverage of the senior citizen’s pension provided under the
Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010 to all senior citizens not currently
covered by the GSIS or the SSS the bill seeks to ensure that no senior citizen

1 Population Commission. 2018. 107 Million Filipinos by End-2018 [Press Release]. Retrieved
from <http://www.popcom. gov.ph/ 10-press-releases/578-107-million-filipinos-by-end-2018>


shall be deprived of even the most basic of social security. It likewise mandates
the adjustment to present value of the monthly pension once every three years
in order to prevent a reduction in the real value of the pension due to inflation.

Furthermore, the bill seeks to provide a P15,000 funeral and burial assistance
in recognition of the significant financial burden such services place on senior
citizens and their families.

Through the additional government assistance provided by this bill it is hoped
that fewer Filipinos are forced to endure hardship in their later years.

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

Secogfd District, Marikina City


Republic of the Philippines

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 7222

Introduced by HON. ROMERO “MIRO” S. QUIMBO

AN ACT PROVIDING FOR ADDITIONAL GOVERNMENT
ASSISTANCE TO SENIOR CITIZENS THROUGH THE EXPANSION
OF THE COVERAGE OF THE SENIOR CITIZEN’S PENSION
PROGRAM AND THE GRANT OF FUNERAL AND BURIAL
ASSISTANCE, FURTHER AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7432, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE
“EXPANDED SENIOR CITIZEN ACT OF 2010”, AS AMENDED BY
REPUBLIC ACT 9994, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

SECTION. 1. Section 5, paragraph h of Republic Act No. 7432, as amended
by Republic Act No. 9257, otherwise known as the "Expanded Senior Citizens
Act of 2003", is hereby further amended to read as follows:

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

“(a) xxx
“(h) Additional Government Assistance

“(1) Social Pension - [Indigent] Senior citizens shall be entitled to a
monthly stipend amounting to Five hundred pesos (Php 500.00) to
augment the daily subsistence and other medical needs of senior
citizens subject [a review every two (2) years by Congress, in
consultation with the DSWD]. PROVIDED, THAT SUCH SENIOR
CITIZEN DOES NOT RECEIVE ANY PENSION FROM THE
GOVERNMENT SERVICE INSURANCE SYSTEM (GSIS) OR THE
SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM (SSS). PROVIDED, FURTHER, THAT
ONCE EVERY THREE (3) YEARS, THE MONTHLY STIPEND SHALL
BE ADJUSTED TO ITS PRESENT VALUE USING THE CONSUMER


PRICE INDEX, AS PUBLISHED BY THE PHILIPPINE STATISTICS
AUTHORITY (PSA).

(2) xx
(3) x00

“(4) FUNERAL AND BURIAL ASSISTANCE - THE BENEFICIARY OR
ANY PERSON WHO SHALL SHOULDER THE FUNERAL AND BURIAL
EXPENSES OF A DECEASED SENIOR CITIZEN, SHALL BE
ENTITLED TO FIFTEEN THOUSAND PESOS (P15,000) AS FUNERAL
AND BURIAL ASSISTANCE.”

SECTION 2. Repealing Clause. All laws, executive orders, rules and
regulations or any part hereof inconsistent herewith are deemed repealed or
modified accordingly.

SECTION 3. 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 4. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days its complete

publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general
circulation, whichever comes earlier.

Approved,