TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
S.B. No.
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SENATE
215
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INTRODUCED BY SENATOR RISA HONTIVEROS
AN ACT
GRANTING UNIVERSAL SOCIAL PENSION TO ALL SENIOR CITIZENS AGED 
60 YEARS OLD AND ABOVE, AMENDING FOR THIS PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT 
NO. 7432, AS AMENDED
EXPLANATORY NOTE
In the Philippines, and in many countries around the world growing old is 
becoming one of the biggest economic challenges facing both the individual and 
society, as a whole. Based on the population projection of the Philippine Statistics 
Authority, the number of Filipinos over the age of 60 is set to triple in the next 30 
years from 7.6 million in 2015 to 22.6 million in 2045.1 As the population continues to 
age, the matter of securing a steady income to support the well-being of older persons 
becomes more relevant in addressing issues of poverty and inequality. Providing social 
protection for the elderly is among the universally accepted and proven approaches in 
reducing incidence of poverty and in narrowing the equality gap. Pensions also 
strengthen inclusive growth by spreading and sharing the financial demands of the 
aging population across society. The social pension currently received by our indigent 
senior citizens mitigates the financial difficulties they suffer on a daily basis by 
supplementing their budget for food and medication for their declining health. 
However, its overall impact is limited by how the pension scheme is designed by 
excluding a large portion of vulnerable elderly, and by the measly amount of five 
hundred pesos the beneficiaries receive monthly.
A universal social pension for the elderly would likewise narrow the pension 
coverage gap. Our neighbors in the region, such as Thailand, Brunei, Timor-Leste and 
Vietnam are currently implementing similar tax-financed schemes that cover all citizens 
of a specified age. Apart from strengthening the development of our existing pension 
system and narrowing the gap in our pension coverage, there are other advantages 
to a universal pension approach compared to the means-tested system we are 
currently using. First, it is one of the simplest and most effective ways to guarantee 
that every senior citizen receives a pension. Without much room for exclusion errors, 
it ensures that all indigent senior citizens will be covered. Second, it will provide
1 Philippine Statistics Authority, "2010 Census-Based Population Projections in Collaboration with the Inter-Agency 
Group on Population Projections".
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substantial security for low-income earners in the informal sector. Third, since the 
criteria for eligibility is simple and straightforward, it reduces instances of corruption 
and clientelist practices. Fourth, as the pension shall be viewed as a right rather than 
a dole-out, the dignity of the recipients is preserved. It is also a recognition of our 
senior citizens' life-long contributions to society by way of the taxes they have paid, 
their productive labor, and their efforts in raising the generations of Filipinos that came 
after them. Fifth, its universality shall gather a broad base of support not only from 
senior citizens but from other sectors as well. And sixth, the simple and uncomplicated 
criteria in considering eligibility make it cheaper to implement as administrative costs 
are lower.
A study on aging in the Philippines conducted by the University of the 
Philippines Population Institute revealed that over half of senior citizens live in 
households that have difficulty in meeting expenses. Another 40% say that their 
households have "just enough to pay for expenses'.2 Under such circumstances, 
pensions are often used in augmenting household incomes and in developing the skills 
of the younger generation. Studies also show that universal pensions contribute to 
other development outcomes such as lowering the number of child workers, increasing 
school enrollment, and encouraging families to finance livelihood activities.3
Growing old comes with a variety of challenges, from physical to economic. And 
growing old in a country where poverty is prevalent, these challenges not only 
reinforce each other but are also glaringly magnified. By providing income security in 
the form of universal pension for senior citizens, we not only assist them with their 
basic needs such as food and health, and help prop-up low income families, it also 
becomes a tool to share the proceeds of growth across all of society. As a way of 
showing our gratitude to our lolos and lolas, it is but right for succeeding generations 
to ensure that they grow old with honor and dignity. And for these, the passage of this 
bill is earnestly sought.
RISA HONTIVEROS 
Senator
2 Cruz, Grace, Josefina Natividad, Melissa Gonzales, and Yasuhiko Salto. "Aging in the Philippines: Findings from 
the 2017 Philippine Study on Aging". Quezon City: University of the Philippines Population Institute, 2016.
3 Horn, David, Charles Knox-Vydmanov, and Aura Sevilla. 'The Feasibility of a Universal Social Pension in the 
Philippines". Quezon City: Coalition of Services for the Elderly, and HelpAge International, 2017


TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
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SENATE
S.B. No.
215
2!: JUL -7 PI2 ;06
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR RISA HONTIVEROS
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AN ACT
GRANTING UNIVERSAL SOCIAL PENSION TO ALL SENIOR CITIZENS AGED 
60 YEARS OLD AND ABOVE, AMENDING FOR THIS PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT 
NO. 7432, AS AMENDED
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Lingap Para kay Lolo 
at Lola Act".
Sec. 2. Section 2 of Republic Act No. 7432, as amended by Republic Act No. 
9257, further 4 amended by Republic Act No. 9994, otherwise known as the "Expanded 
Senior Citizens Act of 2010" 5, is hereby further amended to read as follows:
"Sec. 2. Definition of Terms. - For the purposes of this Act, these terms 
are defined 8 as follows:
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"(i) SOCIAL PENSION REFERS TO THE MONTHLY STIPEND OR 
MONETARY GRANT FROM THE GOVERNMENT TO AUGMENT THE DAILY 
SUBSISTENCE AND OTHER MEDICAL NEEDS OF SENIOR CITIZENS WHICH SHALL 
NOT BE LESS THAN ONE THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED PESOS (PHP 1,500.00) PER 
MONTH.
Sec. 3. Section 5 of the same Act, as amended, is hereby further amended to 
read as follows:
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"(h) Additional Government Assistance 
"(1) Social Pension
"[Indigent] ALL senior citizens SHALL BE ENTITLED TO A MONTHLY 
SOCIAL PENSION OF AT LEAST ONE THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED 
PESOS (PHP 1,500.00) to augment their daily subsistence and other 
medical needs.
The amount of social pension SHALL BE REVIEWED AND, when 
necessary, ADJUSTED OR INCREASED BY THE DSWD every two 
years after the effectivity of this act, in consultation with the
DEPARTMENT OF BUDGET AND MANAGEMENT (DBM) AND 
OTHER RELEVANT STAKEHOLDERS, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT 
THE VARIOUS NEEDS OF SENIOR CITIZENS, THE NATIONAL 
INFLATION RATE, AND OTHER RELEVANT ECONOMIC 
INDICATORS, as reported and published by the pertinent government 
agencies or authorities: PROVIDED, THAT THE SOCIAL PENSION 
SHALL NOT BE LESS THAN THE AMOUNT INITIALLY SPECIFIED 
IN THIS ACT.
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Sec. 4. 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.
Sec. 5. Repealing Clause - All laws, decrees, executive orders or rules and 
regulations contrary to or inconsistent 22 with the provisions of this Act are hereby 
repealed or modified accordingly.
Sec. 6. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or 25 in any newspaper of the general circulation.
Approved,