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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE:
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS,
First Regular Session

481

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Honorable MARK A. VILLAR

AN ACT
MANDATING A TWO THOUSAND PESO (P2,000.00) ACROSS-THE-BOARD
INCREASE IN THE MONTHLY PENSION WITH CORRESPONDING ADJUSTMENT OF
THE MINIMUM MONTHLY PENSION UNDER THE SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM,
AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION 12 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 1161, AS
AMENDED, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE “SOCIAL SECURITY ACT OF 1997”

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Article XIII of the our Constitution provides that “The Congress shall give highest
priority to the enactment of measures that protect and enhance the right of all the people
to human dignity, reduce social, economic, and political inequalities, and remove cultural
inequities by equitably diffusing wealth and political power for the common good.”

The Social Security System (SSS) announced a five percent (5%) across-the-board
pension increase for its 1.9 million retired members effective June, 2014. However, the
said increase is too small to meet skyrocketing expenses.

A large number of SSS pensioners have been experiencing difficulties owing to the
continuing escalation of the cost of living in the country and inflation. Sadly, the amount
these retirees receive as their monthly pension is inadequate to meet even the most basic
needs. How will they even afford to buy their medicine?

Under the Social Security Act, otherwise known as Republic Act No. 8262, SSS
members with at least 10 credited years of service are provided a monthly pension of P1,
200.00, while those with 20 credited years are given P2,400.00. The average pension
received, as of April 2015, is Three thousand one hundred sixty-nine pesos (P3,169.00).

Last January, the enrolled House Bill No. 5842, which provides for a Two thousand
peso (P2,000,00) across-the-board increase in the monthly pension of SSS pensioners
and adjustment of the minimum monthly pension from One thousand two hundred pesos
(P1,200.00) to Three thousand two hundred pesos (3,200.00) for members who have


contributed the equivalent of ten (10) credited years of service, and from Two thousand
four hundred pesos (P2,400.00) to Four thousand pesos (P4,000.00), for those with at
least twenty (20) credited years of service.

Thereafter, a number of lawmakers planned to override the veto. However, no
voting was held, as the possibility of overriding the veto was not taken up despite the
existence of a quorum.

We must aid our lolos and lolas as much as we can. Let us remember that these
are the people who worked hard all their lives in order to provide for their children and give
them a future. Now is our chance to give back.

At the same time, we must also consider measures that may promote the bolstering
of the durability and stability of the SSS to ensure that the myriad of future pensioners can
still avail of the benefits provided by the law.

In view of the social justice thrust of our Constitution, this bill seeks to increase the
current SSS pension by Two thousand pesos (P2,000.00) to make it more responsive to
the basic necessities of SSS pensioners

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

tee

MARK A, VILLAR


&

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

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO.__ 4814

Introduced by Honorable MARK A. VILLAR

AN ACT
MANDATING A TWO THOUSAND PESO (P2,000.00) ACROSS-THE-BOARD,
INCREASE IN THE MONTHLY PENSION WITH CORRESPONDING ADJUSTMENT OF
THE MINIMUM MONTHLY PENSION UNDER THE SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM,
AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION 12 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 1161, AS
AMENDED, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE “SOCIAL SECURITY ACT OF 1997”

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

SECTION 14. Any provision of law to the contrary notwithstanding, the Social
Security Commission is hereby mandated to implement a Two thousand peso (P2,000.00)
across-the-board increase in the monthly pensions under the Social Security System

SEC. 2, Section 12 of Republic Act No. 1161, as amended by Republic Act No,
8282, otherwise known, as the Social Security Act is hereby further amended to read as
follows:

"SEC. 12, Monthly Pension, - (a) The monthly pension shall be the highest
of the following amounts

(1) The sum of the following:

i. Three hundred pesos (P300.00); plus

ii, Twenty percent (20%) of the average monthly
salary credit; plus

ili. Two percent (2%) of the average monthly salary
credit for each credited year of service in excess
of ten (10) years; or

(2) Forty percent (40%) of the average monthly salary credit; or


(3)One thousand pesos (P1,000.00): Provided, That the monthly
pension shall in no case be paid for an aggregate amount of less
than sixty (60) months.

(b) Notwithstanding the preceding paragraph, the minimum
MONTHLY pension shall be [One thousand two hundred pesos
(P1,200.00)] THREE THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED PESOS
(P3,200.00) for members with at least ten (10) credited years of
service and [Two thousand four hundred pesos (P2,400.00)] FOUR
THOUSAND FOUR HUNDRED PESOS (P4,400.00) for those with

twenty (20) credited years of service. "

SEC. 3. Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive order, letter of
instruction, administrative order, rule, or regulation inconsistent with this Act is hereby
repealed, modified, or amended accordingly.

SEC. 4. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in at least
two (2) national newspapers of general circulation, whichever comes earlier.

Approved,