Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Constitution Hills, Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

5173
House Bill No.

Introduced by Representative ERIC L. OLIVAREZ

EXPLANATORY NOTE

It has been seven years since Congress enacted Republic
Act 9994 or the “Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010”
amending Republic Act 7432 as amended, otherwise known as
“An Act to Maximize the Contribution of Senior Citizens to Nation
Building, Grant Benefits and Special Privileges and For Other
Purposes” giving more benefits for our senior citizens.

As stated in Section 1 of R.A. 7432 as amended further by
R.A. 9994, 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.” The same law reiterates the Constitutional
provisions stating that the priority of the State is to address the
needs of the under privilege, sick, elderly, disabled, women and
children; and the State may design programs of social security for
senior citizens.

R.A. 9994 provides that a social pension be granted to
indigent senior citizens as an additional government program and
should be reviewed biennially by Congress, and as
aforementioned, Congress has not made any review in the past
seven (7) years. Thus making it imperative for Congress to look
into the said program, especially the amount provided for in the
law in view of the inflation rate for the past seven years.


However, indigent senior citizens are not the only sector of
senior citizens that need assistance to cope up with rising costs
of health services and supplies, and other social services. Even
those that are receiving pension from GSIS or SSS, have a source
of income or support from families or relatives are also
experiencing erosion of their economic capacity to cope up with
the increase in cost of living for an elderly person. They also
need assistance from government.

Furthermore, it is also high time that government and as
society recognizes the significant contributions to the country
made by our senior citizens. In their old age and frailty of body
and mind, senior citizens whether indigent, lower income and
middle income are all vulnerable to sudden changes in prices and
cost of living, giving them more stressors.

This measure intends to expand the coverage of the social
pension program as provided for by R.A. 9994 through amending
the law and increasing the amount to be received by the senior
citizens in a socialized manner by providing a proviso that the
amount to be received by indigent senior citizens should be at
least doubled the amount received by other senior citizens.

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

au (OW,

ERIC L. OLIVAREZ


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Constitution Hills, Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 9473

Introduced by Rep. ERIC L. OLIVAREZ

AN ACT EXPANDING THE COVERAGE OF THE SENIOR CITIZENS
PENSION PROGRAM AND INCREASING ITS AMOUNT, FURTHER
AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7432, AS AMENDED, OTHERWISE
KNOWN AS “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 House of Representatives of the
Philippines in Congress assembled:

Section 1. Objectives. - The objectives of this act is to expand
the coverage of the senior citizen pension program and increase the
amount received by the senior citizens as defined in R.A. 9994
otherwise known as the “Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010”

Section 2. Expanding the Coverage of the Senior Citizen
Social Pension. - Section 5, paragraph (h), sub-paragraphs (1) and
(2) of R.A. 7432 as amended by R.A. 9257 and further amended by
R.A. 9994 otherwise known as the “Expanded Senior Citizens Act of
2010” is hereby further amended to read as follows:

“Sec. 5. Government Assistance. - The government shall provide
the following:
FOO
“(h) Additional Government Assistance

“(1) Social Pension

“All senior citizens shall be entitled to a monthly stipend
amounting to One thousand pesos (Php 1,000.00) to augment


the daily subsistence and other medical needs of senior citizens,
subject to review of every two (2) years by DSWD and shall
propose to Congress reasonable adjustments.

However, indigent senior citizens shall be entitled to twice the
aforementioned amount or amount granted to non-indigent
senior citizens and shall be subject to adjustments due to
inflation in accordance with the guidelines to be issued by the
DSWD.

FOO

Section 3. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to
effectively carry out the initial implementation of this Act shall be
sourced from the current budget of the DSWD. Thereafter, such sums
as may be necessary for the continued implementation of this Act
shall be included in the succeeding General Appropriations Act.

Section 4. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within
ninety (90) days after the effectivity of this Act, the Department of
Social Work and Development (DSWD) shall promulgate the necessary
rules and regulations for the proper implementation of this Act.

Section 5. Repealing Clause. ~ All law, executive orders, rules
and regulations or any part hereof inconsistent herewith are deemed
repealed or modified accordingly.

Section 6. Separability Clause. - If any part or provision of
this Act shall be declared unconstitutional and invalid, such
declaration shall not invalidate other parts thereof which shall remain
in full force and effect.

Section 7. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15)
days its complete publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two
(2) newspapers of general circulation, whichever comes earlier.

Approved,