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

TWENTIETH CONGRESS,
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL no. 2797

Introduced by
Representative MARK ANTHONY G. SANTOS

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Article XIII, Section 11 of the 1987 Constitution states that the State shall adopt an integrated and
comprehensive approach to health development, which shall endeavor to make essential goods, health, and
other social services available to all the people at affordable cost. There shall be priority for the needs of
the underprivileged, sick, elderly, disabled, women, and children. Similarly, Republic Act No. 7227, or the
“Magna Carta of Disabled Persons,” provides for a comprehensive policy for the improvement of the well-
being of PWDs, ensuring them equitable access to social services, education, employment, civic
participation, and governance. Said law provides all PWDs with privileges such as a 20 percent discount
‘on goods and services, including store purchases, medical and dental care, theater activities, and travel.

According to a World Bank study on disability, an estimated one billion people, or 15 percent of
the world’s population, live with some form of disability. In the Philippines, the 2016 National Disability
Prevalence Survey (NDPS) states that around 12 percent of Filipinos aged 15 or older experience severe
disability. Furthermore, 47 percent experience moderate disability, while 23 percent have mild disability.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) are the world’s
largest minority.

This proposed measure will help PWDs meet their basic needs—including healthcare, nutrition,
and housing—and will enable them to participate more fully in social, cultural, and economic activities. By
providing financial support, the allowance would empower PWDs to contribute to and benefit from national
development, fostering a more inclusive society.

‘A monthly social pension amounting to two thousand pesos (Php 2,000) as a disability allowance
to supplement basic income and support expenses is to be granted to PWDs. The Department of Social
Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA) shall ensure
that a database of all PWDs is created to effectively distribute social pensions and properly monitor the
implementation of this measure.

Given the foregoing, the passage of this measure is eamnestly sought.

MARK ANTHONY G. S: 1S.


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

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 7197

Introduced by
Representative MARK ANTHONY G. SANTOS

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE SOCIAL PENSION OF
INDIGENT PERSONS WITH DISABILITY (PWDs), AND APPROPRIATING
FUNDS THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Social Pension for Indigent Persons
with Disability Act.”

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. — It is the policy of the State to promote a just and dynamic
social order that will ensure the prosperity and independence of the nation and free the people from
poverty through policies that provide adequate social services, promote full employment, a rising
standard of living, and an improved quality of life for all. The State shall provide priority needs of
vulnerable sectors such as persons with disabilities. In pursuance of this end, social protection

measures such as the grant of monthly social pension shall be extended to indigent persons with
disabilities.

SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. — For purposes of this Act, the following terms are defined as
follows:


a. “Indigent Person” — refers to a person who has no visible means of income or support, or
whose income may not be sufficient for the subsistence or basic needs of his/her family, as
may be determined by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

b. “Persons with Disabilities (PWDs)” — refer to individuals suffering from restriction of
different abilities as a result of a mental, physical or sensory disability, impairment, and

handicap to perform an activity in the manner within the range considered normal for a
human being.

c. “Indigent Person with Disability” — refers to a person with disability who has no pension,
permanent source of income, or regular support from his/her relatives to meet his/her basic
needs.

d. “Impairment” — is any loss, diminution, or aberration of psychological, physiological, or
anatomical structure of function.

e. “Disability” refers to:

i. A physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more

psychological, physiological, or anatomical functions of an individual or act
of such individual;
ii, A record of such an impairment; or
ii, Being regarded as having such an impairment.
f. “Handicap” — refers to a disadvantage for a given individual resulting from an impairment
or a disability, that limits or prevents the functions or activity, that is considered normal

given the age and sex of the individual.

SECTION 4. Coverage. - All indigent PWDs, as verified and certified by the DSWD and the
National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA) shall be covered by the provisions of this Act.

The eligible PWD shall be entitled to a monthly social pension from the DSWD amounting to two
thousand pesos (Php 2,000.00) to augment his/her daily subsistence, subject to existing

government auditing rules and regulations.

SECTION 5. Database of PWDs. - To implement effectively, a database of all eligible indigent
PWDs should be created by the NCDA and DSWD. Renewed efforts must be made to collect


comprehensive, accurate and updated information that can be disaggregated according to a wide
range of variables as a basis for effective planning and implementation services, and monitoring,
and evaluation. The creation and management of this database shall adhere strictly to the standards
set forth in Republic Act No. 10173, otherwise known as the “Data Privacy Act of 2012.”

SECTION 6. Policy on PWD Identification Cards. - The issuance of PWD Identification Cards
pursuant to Republic Act No. 7277, otherwise known as the “Magna Carta for Persons with
Disabilities,” as amended, along with other relevant administrative issuances and local ordinances,
shall incorporate the information necessary for the granting of the monthly social pension to
eligible PWDs. The issuance of an authentic PWD Identification Card is a pre-requisite to qualify
as a beneficiary under this Act.

SECTION 7. Penal Provisions, — The penalties shall apply to the following:

a. Any PWD, or his/her parent or his/her relative of any degree of consanguinity or affinity,
or any third person found to be deliberately committing any fraudulent act of enrolling a
PWD to the program when said person is not indigent shall suffer the following:

i. For the first violation, a fine of not less than twenty-five thousand pesos (Php
25,000.00) but not exceeding fifty thousand pesos (Php 50,000.00); and

ji. For any subsequent violation, a fine of not less than fifty thousand pesos
(Php50,000.00) but not exceeding one hundred thousand pesos (Php 100,000.00).

b. Any person, natural or judicial, violating any provision of this Act and its Implementing
Rules and Regulations (IRR), except violations pertaining to Subsection a of this Section,
shall be penalized with a fine of not less than fifty thousand pesos (Php 50,000.00) but not
exceeding one hundred thousand pesos (Php 100,000.00). If the violator is a corporation,
organization or any similar juridical entity, the officials directly involved and responsible
shall be liable therefor.

c. Ifany PWD, or his/her parent or his/her relative of any degree of consanguinity or affinity
or any third person fails to settle the fines specific on Subsections a and b of this Section,
the penalty of arresto mayor in its maximum period shall be imposed.


SECTION 8. Appropriations. — The amount necessary for the implementation of this Act shall be
included in the annual General Appropriations of the year following its enactment into law and
thereafter.

SECTION 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within sixty (60) days from the effectivity
of this Act, the DSWD, in consultation with the NCDA, Department of Interior and Local
Government, Department of Health, and other relevant government agencies and non- government
organizations, shall issue the necessary rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this
Act.

SECTION 10. Suppletory Clause. - The provisions of Republic Act No. 7277, otherwise known
as the “Magna Carta for Persons with Disabilities,” as amended by Republic Act No. 10754 and
Republic Act No. 9442, have suppletory effect to the provisions of this Act.

SECTION 11. Separability Clause. — If any provision or part of this Act is declared invalid or
unconstitutional, other provisions not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.

SECTION 12. Repealing Clause. — All other laws, decrees, executive orders, proclamations, other
issuances, rules, and regulations, or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are

hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.

SECTION 13. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days from its publication in the
Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,