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

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 427

Introduced by REP. RODOLFO “OMPONG” M. ORDANES

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

The 1987 Philippine Constitution mandates the State to prioritize the needs of the
underprivileged, including the elderly, and to uphold their right to a life of dignity,
security, and social protection. In fulfillment of this constitutional duty, Congress
enacted Republic Act No. 7432, as amended, which provides various benefits and
privileges to senior citizens, including the grant of a social pension to indigent elderly
under Republic Act No. 9994 or the “Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010.”

While the social pension program has provided much-needed assistance to many
senior citizens, its implementation has been plagued by serious challenges,
particularly the politicization of the selection process of beneficiaries. The reliance on
the existing approach has led to inconsistencies, allegations of favoritism, and the
exclusion of many deserving elderly Filipinos who do not meet the narrow definition
of “indigency” but still live in poverty or financial insecurity.


This bill seeks to address these long-standing issues by instituting a universal social
pension for all Filipino senior citizens aged sixty (60) and above, regardless of income
or socio-economic status. By ensuring automatic inclusion, the bill aims to eliminate
the space for discretion and political interference in selecting pension recipients,
thereby promoting fairness, equity, and transparency in delivering this essential
support.

Moreover, the proposed measure affirms the belief that every senior citizen, by virtue
of their age and past contributions to society, is entitled to State support that can help
them meet their basic needs, access healthcare, and live with dignity in their twilight

years.

Itis also worth noting that this bill was approved on Third and Final Reading by the
House of Representatives and has been transmitted to the Senate in the 19th Congress.
The strong support it received underscores the urgency of reforming the current
system and providing a more inclusive and just social protection program for our

elderly.

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

RODOLFO “O! ” M. ORDANES


Craw ane wn

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

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 427

Introduced by REP. RODOLFO “OMPONG” M. ORDANES

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 the 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
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“(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
“@) 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
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“(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


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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
tobe in full force and effect.

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,