TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
25 JUL-3 P4 59
SENATE 
S. No. 95
HI'
Introduced by Senator MARK A. VILLAR
AN ACT
GRANTING UNIVERSAL SOCIAL PENSION TO SENIOR CITIZENS, 
AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE THE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7432, AS AMENDED, 
OR THE "ACT TO MAXIMIZE THE CONTRIBUTION OF SENIOR CITIZENS TO 
NATION BUILDING, GRANT BENEFITS AND SPECIAL PRIVILEGES AND FOR 
OTHER PURPOSES"
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Article XV, Section 4 of the Constitution, provides that it is the duty of the 
family to take care of its elderly members, while the State may design programs of 
social security for them. While Article XIII, Section 11 mandates that the State should 
prioritize the needs of the elderly, among others.
The above is especially relevant as the Philippines is facing a rapid 
demographic change as it may have an aging population by 20301. By 2050, Filipinos 
aged 60 and above will increase to 23.7 million from 9.3 million in 20202. Additionally, 
according to the 2022 social pension review of the Philippine Institute for Development 
Studies (PIDS), 36.9% of Filipino seniors still do not have a pension3. These numbers 
reflect a growing concern for the State to facilitate a society where the elderly will be 
taken care of.
In 2021, half of our senior citizens reported that they are still working to make 
ends meet4. Considering that the Department of Social Welfare and Development 
(DSWD) rolled out its social pension for indigent senior citizens in 2011, there remains
1 https://www.philstar.eom/headlines/2024/01/09/23244 20/DhiliDpine$-mav-have-aqinq-population-2030-cpd
2 https://www.eria.org/uploads/8_Ch_1-Shifting_Demographic.pdf
3 https://pids.gov.ph/publication/research-paper-series/socpen-beyond-ten-a-process-evaluation-of-dswd-s-socpen-program-amid-the-covid-19-pandemic
4 https://www.abs-cbn.com/spotlight/10/07/22/nearly-half-of-filipino-seniors-still-work-popcom


a reality where Filipino elderly are still working or financially incapable of daily 
sustenance.
This measure seeks to provide protection and support for elderly Filipinos 
through a standardized distribution of social pension to all senior citizens regardless 
of their social status. Through this bill, indigent senior citizens are entitled to a monthly 
stipend of One thousand pesos (Php 1,000.00). Senior citizens who are not considered 
as indigents shall be entitled to a monthly stipend of Five hundred pesos (Php 500.00), 
which shall be increased to One thousand pesos(Pl,000.00) after five years.
In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought.
i<2-
MARK A. VILLAR


TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
S. No. 95
25 JUL-3 P4 59
Introduced by Senator MARK A. VILLAR
AN ACT
GRANTING UNIVERSAL SOCIAL PENSION TO SENIOR CITIZENS, 
AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7432, AS AMENDED OR 
THE "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:
1 
Section 1. Section 2 of Repubiic Act No. 7432, as amended, is hereby further
2 
amended to read as foliows:
3 
"Sec. 2. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this
4 
Act, these terms are defined as foiiows:
5 
"(a) XXX
6 
"X X X
7 
"(i) Pension Provider refers to any government office or
8 
agency, or any private entity which provides pensions to
9 
entitled recipients on the basis of contributions, gratuity,
10 
or as mandated by any governing law or issuance,
11 
including the Social Security System (SSS), the
12 
Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), and the
13 
Pension and Gratuity Management Center (PGMC),
14 
AMONG OTHERS; and "(j) UNIVERSAL Soda!Pension
15 
refers to [the] A NON-CONTRIBUTORY MONTHLY
16 
monetary grant from the government to support the


1 
daily subsistence and medical needs of senior citizens
2 
[which shall not bo loss than One thousand pesos
3 
(Pf.eeo.oo) pGr-monthj"T
4 
Sec. 2. Section 5(h)(1) of Republic Act No. 7432, as amended, is hereby
5 
further amended to read as follows:
6 
"Sec. 5. Government Assistance. -The government shall
7 
provide the following:
8 
"(a) XXX
9 
"X X X
10 
"(h) Additional Government Assistance
11 
"(1) [Mandat-eryj UNIVERSAL Social Pension
12 
"(A) Indigent senior citizens shall be entitled to a
13 
monthly stipend amounting to [not Icss-thari]' AT LEAST
14 
One thousand pesos (P1,000.00) to augment the daily
15 
subsistence and other medical needs [of senior citizens].
16 
"(B) SENIOR CITIZENS WHO ARE PREVIOUSLY
17 
NOT CONSIDERED AS INDIGENTS SHALL BE
18 
ENTITLED TO A MONTHLY STIPEND AMOUNTING
19 
TO AT LEAST FIVE HUNDRED PESOS (P500.00)
20 
UPON THE EFFECTIVITY OF THIS ACT:
21 
PROVIDED, THAT WITHIN FIVE (5) YEARS ALL
22 
SENIOR CITIZENS SHALL BE ENTITLED TO A
23 
UNIVERSAL SOCIAL PENSION EQUIVALENT TO A
24 
MONTHLY STIPEND OF AT LEAST ONE THOUSAND
25 
PESOS (Pl.OOO.OO) REGARDLESS OF ANY OTHER
26 
PENSION BENEFITS THEY MAY RECEIVE FROM
27 
OTHER PENSION PROVIDERS: PROVIDED,
28 
FURTHER, THAT ANY SENIOR CITIZEN MAY
29 
WAIVE THIS UNIVERSAL SOCIAL PENSION.
30 
"[The DSWD shall, subject-to the approval of the
31 
Department of Budget and -Management (DBM), in
32 
consultation with other- Gtakeholdors, review and, when


1 
necessary/ odjustthc amount of-tho sociDi pcnsiorv every
2 
two (2) years after the-effeetivity-of this Act, taking into
3 
account the present consumer price index as published
4 
by-the- PSA ond relevant economic indicator as
5 
reported—and—published by—pertinent—government
6 
agencies and authorities.]
7 
"THE DSWD SHALL/ IN CONSULTATION
8 
WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF BUDGET AND
9 
MANAGEMENT (DBM)/ AS WELL AS OTHER
10 
STAKEHOLDERS/ REVIEW AND IF NECESSARY/
11 
ADJUST THE AMOUNT OF UNIVERSAL SOCIAL
12 
PENSION EVERY TWO (2) YEARS AFTER THE FULL
13 
IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS ACT/ TAKING INTO
14 
ACCOUNT THE VARIOUS NEEDS OF SENIOR
15 
CITIZENS AND RELEVANT ECONOMIC
16 
INDICATORS/ AS REPORTED AND PUBLISHED BY
17 
PERTINENT GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND
18 
AUTHORITIES: PROVIDED, THAT THE SOCIAL
19 
PENSION SHALL NOT BE LESS THAN THE AMOUNT
20 
INITIALLY SPECIFIED IN THIS ACT. THE
21 
IMPLEMENTATION/ DISTRIBUTION/ AND
22 
MANAGEMENT OF THE SOCIAL PENSION SHALL
23 
BE TRANSFERRED FROM THE DSWD TO THE
24 
NATIONAL COMMISSION OF SENIOR CITIZENS
25 
(NCSC) WITHIN A PERIOD NOT EXCEEDING
26 
THREE (3) YEARS FROM THE EFFECTIVITY OF
27 
THIS ACT.
28 
"X X X."
29 
Sec. 3. Appropriations. - The universal social pension for senior citizens shall
30 
be added to the regular appropriations of the DSWD in the general appropriations act,
31 
and thereafter, to the National Commission of Senior Citizens, upon full transfer of the
32 
implementation, distribution, and management of the social pension.


1 
Sec. 4. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90) days from
2 
the effectivity of this Act, the Chairperson of the National Commission of Senior
3 
Citizens shall formulate and adopt amendments to the existing rules and regulations
4 
implementing Republic Act No. 11916 to carry out the objectives of this Act, in
5 
consultation with other relevant agencies and stakeholders.
6 
Sec. 5. Separability Clause. - If any portion or provision of this Act were to be
7 
declared unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any provision not affected
8 
thereby shall remain in force and effect.
9 
Sec. 6. Repealing Clause. - Republic Act No. 7432, as amended by Republic Act
10 
Nos. 9257 and 9994, otherwise known as the "Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010"
11 
and Republic Act No. 11916 are hereby amended. All other laws, ordinances, orders,
12 
rules, regulations and other issuances or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this
13 
Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.
14 
Sec. 7. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
15 
publication in the Official Gazette or in any newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,