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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 5056

AN ACT GRANTING UNIVERSAL SOCIAL PENSION TO SENIOR
CITIZENS, FURTHER AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT 7432, AS
AMENDED BY REPUBLIC ACT 9994, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS “THE
EXPANDED SENIOR CITIZENS ACT OF 2010”

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to expand the coverage of social pension to all senior
citizens throughout the country whether indigent or not.

Since the establishment of the social pension to senior citizens, who
are qualified as indigents, it has significantly made a dent in narrowing
the gap of poverty in the countryside. However, complaints relative to the
selection of beneficiaries considerably raised the bar of awareness to revisit
the applicable provisions of Republic Act 7432, as amended. A lot of senior
citizens claim personal prejudice in their exclusion from the list of social
pension beneficiaries foremost of which is the inaccuracy of the “listahan”
database used in providing household data for qualified pensioners. This
is further weighed down by the gap created by personal biases, clientelism,
and corruption in targeting and selection of pensioners.

Putting on premiums to the general contributions of our senior
citizens to our nation must supersede the need to classify social pension
as limited only to our indigents. Social pension should be applied to all
senior citizens regardless of their economic status in life. Accordingly, this
bill will thus delimit the coverage of social pension under Republic Act
7432, as amended by Republic Act 9994, as to cover all senior citizens
throughout the country with a social pension that is progressive and just.
Only then can we give justice to the social pension clamors of our senior
citizens.


Hence, this request for the immediate passage of this bill.

oe D. AGABAS

Representative
6% District, Pangasinan


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No, 5956

AN ACT
GRANTING UNIVERSAL SOCIAL PENSION TO SENIOR
CITIZENS, FURTHER AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7432, AS
AMENDED BY RA 9994, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE
“EXPANDED SENIOR CITIZENS ACT OF 2010”

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

1 SECTION 1. Number (1), Paragraph (H), Section 5 of the
2 Republic Act No. 7432, as amended by Republic Act No. 9994,
3 otherwise known as the “Expanded Senior Citizens Act of
4 2010”, is hereby further amended to read as follows:

5 “Section 5. Government Assistance. - The Government shall
6 provide the following

7 xxx

8 (h) Additional Government Assistance

9 () Social Pension

10 “[Indigent senior} ALL SENIOR citizens shall be entitled to
u monthly stipend amounting to a MINIMUM OF Five hundred
2 pesos (Php. 500.00) to augment the daily subsistence and other

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medical needs of senior citizens, subject to a review every two
(2) years by Congress in consultation with the DSWD,
PROVIDED, THAT SUCH SENIOR CITIZEN DOES NOT
RECEIVE ANY PENSION FROM THE GOVERNMENT
SERVICE INSURANCE SYSTEM, THE SOCIAL SECURITY
SYSTEM, AND OTHER PUBLIC OR PRIVATE SOCIAL
PROTECTION SYSTEM”

Foo.

SECTION 2. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is
declared invalid or unconstitutional, the other provisions not
affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.

SECTION 3. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive
orders or rules and regulations contrary to or inconsistent with
the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed or modified
accordingly.

SECTION 4. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect
fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in

any two national newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,

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