Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City,  Metro Manila
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
HOUSE BILL
giLg[':ro:esT5
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE MILAGROS AQUINO - MAGSAYSAY
AN ACT INSTITUTIONALIZING A 5% BUDGET ALLOCATION FOR SENIOR
CITIZENS AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES (PWDS) FROM "E INTERNAL
REVENUE ALLO"ENT (IRA) OF LcOAL GOVERNMENT UNITS, AND AT LEAST
1% GOVERNIVIENT AGENCY BUDGET OF EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS,
AGENCIES, BUREAUS, OFFICES, COMMISSIONS, STATE UNIVERSITIES AND
COLLEGES"
EXPLANATORY NOTE
This  bill  seeks  to  institutionalize  the  budget  allocation  for  senior  citizens  and
Persons with Disabilities (PWD) programs, projects, activities and services, by specifically
providing for a fixed  percentage Of 5%  Of the  Internal  Revenue Allotment (IRA)  Of local
government  units  (LGUs)  and  at  least  1°/o  annual  agency  budget  of  all  government
agencies,   executive  departments,   bureaus,   offices,   commissions,   state   universities,
colleges, and the like.
Numerous laws, policies and programs for the benefit and welfare of senior citizens
and PWDs have been introduced, but are not being properly implemented due to a lack
of resources or specific budget allocation. While there are sufficient legal bases for senior
citizens and  P\^D  programs and  services,  enforcement and  implementation  is always
difficult due to budgetary constraints.
On the other hand, there have been previous directives on the specific budgetary
allotment for senior citizens and PV\/Ds which were not institutionalized, and thus, these
became discretionary and purely voluntary instead of mandatory.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSVVD) and Department of
Budget  and  Management  (DBM)  issued  Joint  Circular  No.  2003-01  on April  28,  2003,
following Section 29 of the General Appropriations Act (GAA) of 2003 specifically directing
all agencies to set aside at least one (1%) Of their agency budget for programs, projects,
activities and services for senior citizens and Persons with Disabilities (PWDs). Almost a
decade   later,   the   Department   of   Interior   and   Local   Government   (DILG)   issued
Memorandum Circular No.   2014-59 on May 9, 2014,  reiterating and institutionalizing the
1% budget allocation for senior citizens and PWDs, and directing local exeeutive officials


of LGUs to  strictly  implement this  in  accordance with  the  GAA,  the  DBM-DSWD  JMC
2003-01, and RA 7160 or the Local Government Code Of 1991.
This bill seeks to finally formalize and institutionalize the annual  budget allotment
for senior citizens and PWDs. The bill also mandates a specific percentage of budgetary
allocation to be used for relevant senior citizens and PWD programs,  projects, services,
and relevant activities.
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly recommended.


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City,  Metro Manila
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
H653E-Bi#ro:erfu5
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE MILAGROS AQulNO - MAGSAYSAY
AN ACT INSTITUTIONALIZING A 5°/a BUDGET ALLOCATION FOR SENIOR
CITIZENS AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES (PWDS) FROM THE INTERNAL
REVENUE ALLO"ENT (IRA) oF LcreAL GovERNMENT uNiTs, AND AT LEAST
1°/o GOVERNMENT AGENCY BUDGET OF EXECUTIVE DEPAR"ENTS,
AGENCIES, BUREAUS, OFFICES, COMMISSIONS, STATE UNIVERSITIES AND
COLLEGES"
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House Of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress Assem bled
SECTION 1. This Act shall be known as the "Institutionalized Budgetary Allocation for
Senior Citizens and PWD Programs and Services Act".
SECTION  2.  Declaration  of  Policy  -The   1987  Constitution,  Article  11,   Section   lx,
mandates.. "The State shall promote a just and dynamic scoial 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 //.v/.ng,  and an /.mproved qua//.fy of //Te for a//,"  ln addition, Article 11,  Section X declares:
"The State shall promote scoial justice in all phases Of national development." MorecNer,
ATticle Xlll, Sediion Xl comrhiits., "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, elderiy, disabled, women and children.
More importantly , Article Section lv provides: " T77e famr./y has the duly to care fori.fs e/derty
members, but the State may also do so through just programs Of social security."
Consistent with the above-mentioned Constitutional mandates, the foregoing policies and
principles shall form part of the dedared policies Of this Act:
a)   To extend support to our senior citizens by  providing  monetary  resources of the
government to aid them towards a sustainable and decent living;
b)   To strengthen our shared duty in the promotion of basic Filipino values of caring
for elderiy people;


c)   To further cultivate filial  piety as a  basic component of kinship and camaraderie
between and amongst our people; and
d)   To  ensure  acoess to  and  availability  Of government  programs  and  services  for
senior citizens and PVVDs.
In consonance with the foregoing policies, this Act aims to:
a)   Formulate programs and systems that will ensure propriety and uniformity in its
implementation,  through  a  comprehensive  and  inclusive  approach  to  senior
citizens;
b)   Con figure  existing  processes  and  procedures  that  will  help  provide  orderly
conduct of activities between and  among  senior citizens  and their availment
thereof;
c)   Establish norms and customs that will contribute to the development Of a just
and humane society that recognizes and gives value to the contributions and
sacrifices of our senior citizens in and for our communities; and
d)   Maximize the availment of and actual enjoyment of senior citizens and PWDs
of government programs and services intended to support and assist them.
It is, therefore, in the best interest of the State to continue ensuring the rights and welfare
of  its  senior  citizens  and  PWDs  by  providing  adequate  fund  sources  for  responsive
programs and services to address their needs.
SECTION  3.  Annual  Budget Allocation -Consistent with the  2018  Mandanas  ruling
issued by the Supreme Court that LGUs are now entitled to a greater share in the national
tax revenues collected, it is hereby provided that LGUs shall allocate five percent (5%) of
their Internal  Revenue AIlotment (IRA) for senior citizens and PWDs to be shared jointly
for their common and separate programs, projects, activities, and services.
On the other hand,  all  government agencies,  executive departments,  bureaus,  offices,
commissions, state universities and colleges, shall likewise allot at least one percent (1 0/o)
Of their agency  budgets  as  previously  prescribed  under the joint  Department of Social
Welfare and Development (DSWD) and Department of Budget and Management (DBM)
Circular  No.  2003-01   issued  on  April  28,  2003,  following  Section  29  of  the  General
Appropriations Act of 2003 specifically directing all agencies to set aside at least one (1 %)
of their agency  budget for programs,  projects,  activities and services for senior citizens
and Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).
SECTION 4. Application and Utilization of said Budget Allotment -The increased and
fixed  percentage Of budgetary allocation for senior citizens and PWDs shall support the
programs, projects, services and activities mandated by law to address the needs of senior
citizens and PWDs, such as, but not limited to the following:
a)   Republic Act (RA)  No.  9994,  otherwise known as the Expanded  Senior Citizens
Act of 2010, further amending RA 7432 and RA 9257;
b)   Republic Act No. 7876, otherwise known as the "Senior Citizens Center Act";


c)   Republic Act No.10868, otherwise known as the "Centenarians Act of 2016";
d)   Republic Act No. 9442, amending RA 7277, the Magna Carta of PWDs;
e)   Republic Act No.  9763,  authorizing COMELEC to provide Special  Polling  Places
for Senior citizens and PWDs;
f)    Republic Act No.10070, mandating the establishment Of Persons with Disabilities
Affairs Offices (PDAO);
g)   Republic Act No.10754,  amending RA 9442 and further Expanding the Benefits
and Privileges Of PWDs.
SECTION  5.  Compliance  and  Monitoring  -  ln  coordination  with  the  Department  of
Budget and Management (DBM) and the requirements of the Commission on Audit (COA),
all LGus through the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) shall , within 90
days after the  end  of every fiscal  year,  submit to Congress an  annual  report on their
compliance with, or accomplishments under the proposed Act, and a complete accounting
of funds disbursed in compliance with the Act.
SECTION 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations -Within ninety (90) days from the
effectivity of the Act, the respective Secretaries and Chairpersons of the Department of
Budget  and  Management  (DBM),  the  Department  Of  Interior  and  Local  Government
(DILG),  the  Department  of  Social  Welfare  and   Development  (DSWD),  the  National
Commission  for Senior Citizens,  and the Commission  on Audit  (COA)  shall jointly  craft
and issue the rules and regulations necessary for the effective implementation of this Act.
SECTION  7.  Separability  Clause -  lf any  portion  or  provision  Of this Act  is declared
invalid or unconstitutional, other provisions not affected thereby shall continue to be in full
force and effect.
SECTION 8. Repealing clause -All laws, decrees, exeeutive orders, rules or regulations
contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified
accordingly.
SECTION 9. Effectivify -This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after publication in
the Official Gazette or in newspaper of general circulation.
Approved