Republic of the Philippines

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CEIVED. %
Quezon City, Metro Manita (3 om we 5 voy 2013 * “\
( rE
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS Noo he
FIRST REGULAR SESSION 7

HOUSE BILL No. 3414 ras

Introduced by Honorable Oscar “Richard” S. Garin, Jr.
1 District, lloilo

“AN ACT GRANTING SOCIAL PENSION TO INDIGENT SENIOR
CITIZENS WHO ARE AT LEAST SEVENTY (70) YEARS OLD
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES”

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The 1987 Constitution declares:

“Section 9. The State shall 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.”

Consonant to the mandate promoting social justice by way of providing adequate
social services Congress passed Republic Act No. 7432, otherwise known as the
Senior Citizen's Act of 1992. This was subsequently amended by Republic Act
No. 9257 which became known as the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2003. In
2010 Congress passed another amendatory law, Republic Act No. 9994 or the
Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010.

Section 5 (h) (1) of Republic Act No. 9994 provides:

“Section 5. Government Assistance. - The government shall provide the

following:


(h) Additional Government Assistance

(1) Social Pension - Indigent senior citizens shall be
entitled to a monthly stipend amounting to Five hundred
pesos (Php500.00) to augment the daily subsistence and
other medical needs of senior citizens, subject to a review
every two (2) years by Congress, in consultation with the
DSWD.”

Rule V, Article 20 of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act
No. 9994, dated June 18, 2010 provides:

“ADDITIONAL GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE

Section 1. SOCIAL PENSION - Pursuant to the eligibility criteria as may
be determined by the DSWD, indigent senior citizens shall be entitled to a
monthly stipend amounting to Five hundred pesos (Php 500.00) to
augment the daily subsistence and other medical needs of senior citizens.
The grant of social pension shall be subject to a review every two (2)
years by Congress, in consultation with the DSWD within three months
after convening the Congress.”

Presently, the P500 monthly social pension is available only to those indigent
senior citizens who are eighty (80) years old above, thus creating a
discriminatory gap between those who derive benefit and those who do not,
when, in fact, both appear to be similarly situated: economically indigent and
virtually incapable of being productive owing to their advanced age. Thus, where
there is no substantial distinction between indigent senior citizens who are 80
years old and above and those who are 70 to 79 years old, why should they not
be equally protected by the law which, in the first place, seeks to promote social
justice? This bill seeks to eliminate the distinction.

Itis earnestly prayed that this measure be given due consideration.



Republic of the Philippines

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
FIRST REGULAR SESSION

HOUSE BILL NO._3414

Introduced by Honorable Oscar “Ri
1" District, lloilo

“AN ACT GRANTING SOCIAL PENSION TO INDIGENT SENIOR
CITIZENS WHO ARE AT LEAST SEVENTY (70) YEARS OLD
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES”

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

Section 1. Indigent senior citizens who are at least seventy (70) years old shall
be entitled to a monthly pension in the amount of Five Hundred Pesos
(P500.00).

Section 2. Within sixty (60) days from approval of this act, the Department of
Social Welfare and Development in coordination with the National Coordinating
and Monitoring Board created under Republic Act No. 9994 shall issue rules and

regulations to insure full implementation of this Act.

Section 3. The funding requirement of this Act shall be added to the regular
appropriations of the DSWD budget in the subsequent General Appropriations
Act.

Section 4. Repealing Clause — All laws, issuances or any part thereof
inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

Section 5. Effectivity - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
complete publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) national

newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,