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

Seventeenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No, 4688

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Introduced by Representative Joaquin M. Chipeco, Jr.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Every Filipino senior citizen, especially those beyond the general
retirement age of 65 years old, represents a triumph of the Filipino race in its
continuing struggle to extend longevity and overcome natural or artificial
causes of death. The Human Development Index (HDI) of the United Nations
includes longevity as among the factors to be considered in ranking countries
around the world to determine whether they have achieved real progress.

The recently enacted Centenarians Act of 2016, or Republic Act No.
10868, grants a cash gift of P100,000.00 for every Filipino centenarian. On the
other hand, at least one (1) bill has been filed in the House of Representatives
providing monetary incentives in the amount of P 80,000 to senior citizens who
have reached their 80" birthday. Variations of these amounts have also been
extended by rich local government units to its senior citizens.

There is therefore a need to provide a more unified, standardized,
symmetrical and graduated grant of benefits to qualified Filipino senior citizens
which this bill aims to supply. It must always be remembered that the elderly is
among the most vulnerable sectors of our society, and that we have the moral

obligation to show our appreciation to them for their many years of

contribution towards nation-building. The way we treat our elderly would also
show whether we have truly built a “just and humane society”.

The early approval of this measure is therefore earnestly sought.



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

Seventeenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. _ 4638

Introduced by Representative Joaquin M. Chipeco, Jr.

AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING THE GIVING OF GRADUATED CASH
GRANTS TO INDIGENT FILIPINO SENIOR CITIZENS EVERY
DECADE BEGINNING WITH THEIR SEVENTIETH BIRTHDAY

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

SECTION 1. Every indigent Filipino senior citizen, under this Act,
is hereby entitled to receive cash grants graduated according to his or her
longevity as follows:

Amount of Grant Date of Entitlement
P 70,000.00 70" Birthday

P 80,000.00 80" Birthday

P 90,000.00 90" Birthday
P100,000.00 100" Birthday

SEC. 2. The amount of entitlement under this Act shall be in lieu of
conditional cash transfer or similar benefits.

SEC. 3. A Filipino senior citizen shall be deemed indigent if he or
she has no visible means of active income, or is merely surviving on a
mere subsistence level of livelihood.

SEC. 4. The amount necessary for the implementation of this Act
shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.


SEC. 5. Within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this Act, the
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) shall issue the
necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this
Act.

SEC. 6. All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations, or parts
thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or amended
accordingly.

SEC. 7. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general
circulation.

Approved,