Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVPSy
Quezon City f 2]

ie

First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 132

Authored by: Congressman BIENVENIDO M. ABANTE, JR.

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

EXPLANATORY NOTE

When the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010 was signed into law,
it provided for a social pension program for indigent senior citizens to
supplement their daily subsistence. It gave some relief to three million of
our elderly. However, a large proportion of vulnerable older people are
still excluded from the program. In addition, the current monthly stipend
for indigent senior citizens amounting to Five Hundred Pesos (Php
500.00) is no longer enough to augment their daily subsistence and other
medical needs. Increase in the prices of basic commodities in the past five
years has reduced the real value of the social pension.

Thus, this measure seeks to increase the monthly social pension of senior
citizens and expand its coverage to benefit all of the nation's elderly and
ensure that all of the poorest older people are reached by the program.
Not only will the State provide safeguards to protect the wellbeing of
senior citizens, it will also recognize the vital role they play in nation-
building.

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

BIE) O M. ABANTE, JR.

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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 132

Authored by: Congressman BIENVENIDO M. ABANTE, JR.

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

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of

the Philippines in Congress assembled:

SEC. 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;
XXX
(h) x xx;

(1) 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

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ISSUANCE, INCLUDING THE SOCIAL SECURITY
SYSTEM (SSS), THE

GOVERNMENT SERVICE INSURANCE
SYSTEM (GSIS), AND THE PENSION AND

GRATUITY MANAGEMENT CENTER (PGMC);

(J) SOCIAL PENSION REFERS TO THE
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 (PHP
1,000.00) PER MONTH.”

SEC. 2. Section 5 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) Employment
XXX;

“Private entities that will employ senior
citizens as employees, upon the effectivity of
this Act, shall be entitled to an additional
deduction from their gross income, equivalent
to fifteen percent (15%) of the total amount
paid as salaries and wages to senior citizens,
subject to the provision of Section 34 of the
NIRC, as amended: Provided, however, That such
employment shall continue for a period of at least
six (6) months: Provided, further, That the annual
income of the senior citizen does not exceed the
latest poverty threshold as PUBLISHED by the
[National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) of
the National Economic and Development Authority
(NEDA)] PHILIPPINE STATISTICS AUTHORITY
(PSA) for that year.

XXX}

(h) Additional Government Assistance
(a) MANDATORY Social Pension

“Indigent senior citizens shall be entitled to a
monthly stipend amounting to [Five hundred] NOT
LESS THAN ONE THOUSAND PESOS [(Phps0o)]
(Phpi,000.00) to augment the daily subsistence and

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other medical needs of senior citizens [subject to a
review every two (2) yeats by Congress, in consultation
with the DSWD]

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 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.

(2) xxx
) Social Safety Nets

Social safety assistance intended _to

cushion the effectsof economic _ shocks,
disasters, and calamities shall 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] NCSC.”

SEC. 3. Form and Manner of Payment. - The monthly stipend
shall be released to target beneficiaries either in cash, direct remittance
through the engagement of a service provider duly accredited by the
Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (“BSP”), electronic transfer, or other modes
of delivery, whichever is more practical and acceptable to the beneficiary,
ensuring its release in the most expeditious and efficient manner.

SEC. 4. Waiver of Fees. - Any transaction or service fee arising
from the engagement of a service provider for electronic transfer, or
other modes of delivery with service fees for the release of the monthly
stipends and other forms of assistance to target beneficiaries shall not
be charged against the target beneficiaries.

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SEC. 5. Transfer of Functions from the DSWD. - The
implementation, distribution, and management of the social
pension for senior citizens shall, in accordance with Section n_ of
Republic Act No. 7742, as amended by Republic Act No. 11350,
be transferred from the DSWD tothe National Commission of
Senior Citizens (NCSC) within a period not exceeding three (3)
years from the effectivity of this Act.

The absorption or transfer of regular or permanent and
other employees of the affected offices and programs of DSWD shall
be done in accordance with applicable laws, including civil
service laws, rules, and regulations, and subject to the approval
of DBM.

SEC. 6. List of Beneficiaries. - The DSWD, and
thereafter upon full transfer of its functions and programs to the
NCSC, with the assistance of the PSA through community-
based monitoring system established under Republic Act No. 1315,
otherwise known as the “Community-Based Monitoring System
Act”, and validation by the local government units, the list of target
beneficiaries shall be updated and validated annually.

SEC. 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within thirty
(30) days from the effectivity of this Act, the NCSC shall, in consultation

with DSWD, DBM and other concerned government agencies,
as well as nongovernmental organizations and people’s organizations
of senior citizens duly accredited by the

DSWD, promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the
effective implementation of this Act.

SEC. 8. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the initial
implementation of this Act shall be charged against the current
appropriations of the DSWD. Thereafter such amount necessary
for the continued implementation of this Act shall be included in the
annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 9. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act shall be

held unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions not otherwise
affected shall remain in full force and effect.

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SEC. 10. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders,
issuances, and rules and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with
the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. u1. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after
its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general

circulation.

Approve

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