Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE!
Quezon C

Seventeenth Congress
First Regular Session

ATION UNIT
X SERVICE
House Bill No, 2831 7

Introduced by REP. MANUEL ANTONIO F, ZUBIRI

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Itis said that the true measure of a nation’s character can be determined from the manner by which
it treats its senior citizens, After a lifetime of nurturing of our nation’s youth and contributing to
the development of our nation, our senior citizens more than deserve to live the rest of their days
secure in the knowledge that they shall be well taken cared of by a gratefill nation, It is therefore
our duty and privilege as their children to give them this final gift

For all the laws that have been passed for the benefit of Senior Citizens, the senior citizens of this
nation still count among the poorest sectors in Philippine society. In fact, as recent as five years
ago, senior citizens have the sixth highest poverty incidence among the eight basic sectors in the
Philippines

While pensions have remained stagnant in recent years and with most of the working population
of senior citizens belonging to the informal sectors (thus not covered by pensions) - compounded
by the fact that health expenditures are barely subsidized, it remains an established fact that our
senior citizens simply do not have enough since prices of commodities, medicines and health care
constantly increase over time. In fact, for 2012 alone, the poverty incidence with regard to senior
citizens is at 15.2 for the lower limit and 17.2 for the upper limit

To enable our senior citizens to stretch their already meager spending capacity for their basic and
medical needs, this bill seeks to introduce assistance to our senior citizens on the form of additional
safety nets such as food subsidies or assistance. This way, the savings that they realize from this
additional assistance can theft be devoted for other expenses such as the purchase of medicines or
the availment of medical sgfvices

bill is earnestly sought
2

MANUEL ANTONIO F, ZUBIRI
Represeiftative
3" Distrigt, Bukjdnon



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

Seventeenth Congress
First Regular Session

House Bill No. _ 2831

Introduced by REP. MANUEL ANOTNIO F. ZUBIRI

AN ACT PROVIDING FOOD SUBSIDY EVERY QUARTER TO SENIOR CITIZENS IN
THE FORM OF ONE (1) SACK OF RICE AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7432, AS AMENDED BY REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9994,
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS “THE EXPANDED SENIOR CITIZENS ACT OF 2010"

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

Section 1. Section 5, sub-paragraph (3) of Republic Act No. 7432, as amended, is hereby
further amended to read as follows

“Section 5. Government Assistance. — The government shall provide the following:

“XXX

“(h) Additional Government Assistance

(1) xxx

*(2) xxx

*(3) Social Safety Nets

“Senior citizens shall receive one (1) sack of rice every quarter as food assistance to enable them
to extend their already limited financial capacity for their other needs. The Department of Social
Welfare and Development (DSWD) shalll issue guidelines to determine the senior citizens
qualified for food subsidy subject of this Act.

“Social safety assistance intended to cushion the effects of economic shocks, disasters and
calamities shall also be available for senior citizens. The social safety assistance which shall
include, but not limited to, food, medicines, and financial assistance for domicile repair, shall be

sourced from the disaster/calamity funds of LGUs where the senior citizens reside, subject to the
guidelines to be issued by the DSWD.”

Section 2. Repealing Clause. ~ All laws, executive orders, rules and regulations inconsistent with
or contrary to this Act are hereby deemed accordingly repealed or amended

Section 3, Effectivity Clause. ~ This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days from publication
in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation

Approved,