Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

nouse Bit no. 182

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE MILAGROS AQUINO — MAGSAYSAY

AN ACT
GRANTING UNIVERSAL SOCIAL PENSION TO SENIOR CITIZENS,
AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7432, AS
AMENDED, ENTITLED “AN ACT TO MAXIMIZE THE CONTRIBUTION
OF SENIOR CITIZENS TO NATION BUILDING, GRANT BENEFITS AND
SPECIAL PRIVILEGES AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES”

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to grant universal social pension benefits to all senior citizens,
regardless on financial status or income bracket, at an amount of Two Thousand pesos
(2,000.00) per month, subject to review every two (2) years. taking into consideration
inflation and the availability of funds. In addition, this bill seeks to propose additional sources
of funding for this senior citizen program by specifically allowing augmentation from local
government units (LGU) resources, as well as grants, donations, of contributions that may be
extended to the LGUs.

Ageing is a great equalizer, and rich or poor, older persons or senior citizens suffer the
same consequences of declining health, physical impairment. and diminished financial
capacity. The 2007 Philippine Longitudinal Study on Ageing (PLSOA) conducted by the
University of the Philippines Population Institute (UPI) provided some revealing insights
into the country’s elderly population, highlighting two (2) important aspects of ageing — health
and economic status, which are both deemed to decline as the years progress. retirement from
employment drastically affects the financial capacity of many scniors. Even with retirement
or pension benefits (which prove to be meager compared to expenses), the lack of a regular
source of income results in great economic instability. Some basic needs like housing, food,
and clothing remain, while there is rapidly increasing health-related expenditure. With cash
flow fixed, or even greatly reduced, senior citizens may experience an increase in medical
expenses such as the requirement for maintenance medicines. regular laboratory tests or
check-ups, and even frequent hospitalization or medical treatment such as dialysis.

The Social Protection framework to which the Philippines subscribes requires the
development of policies and programs which shall reduce poverty and vulnerability to risks,
and enhance the social status and rights of marginalized sectors like the senior citizens,
including protecting against the sudden loss of income and improving capacity to manage
risks.


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



HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
‘Quezon City, Metro May

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

182

HOUSE BILL N

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE MILAGROS AQUINO - MAGSAYSAY

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AN ACT
GRANTING UNIVERSAL SOCIAL PENSION TO SENIOR CITIZENS,
AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7432, AS
AMENDED, ENTITLED “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. Section 2 of Republic Act No. 7432, as amended, is hereby
further amended to read as follows:
“SEC. 2. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, these terms are
defined as follows:
“(a) xxx
3x
“(i) Pension Provider refers to any government office or agency, or any
private entity which provides pensions to entitled recipients on the basis
of contributions, gratuity, or as mandated by any governing law or
issuance, including the Social Security System (SSS), the Government
Service Insurance System (GSIS), and the Pension and Gratuity
Management Center (PGMC), AMONG OTHERS; and


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“@) UNIVERSAL Social Pension refers to [the] A
NON-CONTRIBUTORY MONTHLY monetary grant from the
government to support the daily subsistence and medical needs of senior
citizens [which shall not be less than One thousand pesos (P1,000.00)
per month].
SEC. 2. Section 5(h)(1) of Republic Act No. 7432, as amended, is hereby
further amended to read as follows:
“SEC. 5. Government Assistance. - The government shall provide the
following:
“(a) xxx
xxx
“(h) Additional Government Assistance
“(1) [Mandatory] UNIVERSAL Social Pension
(A) Indigent senior citizens shall be entitled to a monthly stipend
amounting to {not less than] AT LEAST One thousand pesos
(P1,000.00) to augment the daily subsistence and other
medical needs [of senior citizens].
(B) SENIOR CITIZENS WHO ARE PREVIOUSLY NOT
CONSIDERED AS INDIGENTS SHALL BE ENTITLED
TO A MONTHLY STIPEND AMOUNTING TO AT
LEAST FIVE HUNDRED PESOS (P500.00) UPON THE
EFFECTIVITY OF THIS ACT: PROVIDED, THAT
WITHIN FIVE (5) YEARS ALL SENIOR CITIZENS
SHALL BE ENTITLED TO A UNIVERSAL SOCIAL
PENSION EQUIVALENT TO A MONTHLY STIPEND
OF AT LEAST ONE THOUSAND PESOS (P1,000.00)
REGARDLESS OF ANY OTHER PENSION BENEFITS
THEY MAY RECEIVE FROM OTHER PENSION
PROVIDERS: PROVIDED, FURTHER, THAT ANY
SENIOR CITIZEN MAY WAIVE THIS UNIVERSAL
SOCIAL PENSION.
[The DSWD shall, subject to the approval of the Department of Budget and
Management (DBM), in consultation with other stakeholders, review and,


when necessary, adjust the amount of the social pension every two (2) years

after the effectivity of this Act, taking into account the present consumer

price index as published by the PSA and relevant economic indicators, as
reported and published by pertinent government agencies and authorities.]

“THE DSWD SHALL, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE

DEPARTMENT OF BUDGET AND MANAGEMENT (DBM), AS WELL

AS OTHER STAKEHOLDERS, REVIEW AND IF NECESSARY,

ADJUST THE AMOUNT OF UNIVERSAL SOCIAL PENSION EVERY

TWO (2) YEARS AFTER THE FULL IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS

ACT, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE VARIOUS NEEDS OF SENIOR

CITIZENS AND RELEVANT ECONOMIC INDICATORS, AS

REPORTED AND PUBLISHED BY PERTINENT GOVERNMENT

AGENCIES AND AUTHORITIES: PROVIDED, THAT THE

SOCIAL PENSION SHALL NOT BE LESS THAN THE AMOUNT

INITIALLY SPECIFIED IN THIS ACT. THE IMPLEMENTATION,

DISTRIBUTION, AND MANAGEMENT OF THE SOCIAL PENSION

SHALL BE TRANSFERRED FROM THE DSWD TO THE NATIONAL

COMMISSION OF SENIOR CITIZENS (NCSC) WITHIN A PERIOD

NOT EXCEEDING THREE (3) YEARS FROM THE EFFECTIVITY OF

THIS ACT.

xxx"

SEC. 3. Appropriations. — The universal social pension for senior citizens
shall be added to the regular appropriations of the DSWD in the general
appropriations act, and thereafter, to the National Commission of Senior Citizens,
upon full transfer of the implementation, distribution, and management of the
social pension.

SEC. 4. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within ninety (90)
days from the effectivity of this Act, the Chairperson of the National Commission
of Senior Citizens shall formulate and adopt amendments to the existing rules and
regulations implementing Republic Act No. 11916 to carry out the objectives of
this Act, in consultation with other relevant agencies and stakeholders.

SEC. 5. Separability Clause. — If any provision of this Act is declared
unconstitutional or invalid, other parts or provisions hereof not affected shall

continue to be in full force and effect.


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SEC. 6. Repealing Clause. — Republic Act No. 7432, as amended by
Republic Act Nos. 9257 and 9994, otherwise known as the “Expanded Senior
Citizens Act of 2010”, and Republic Act No. 11916 are hereby amended. All other
laws, ordinances, orders, rules, regulations and other issuances or parts
thereof which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed, amended or
modified accordingly.

SEC. 7. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after
its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,