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SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS <p Ry
Third Regular Session nex
House Bill No. 9040

Introduced by AKBAYAN Party List Representative Tomasito S. Villarin

EXPLANATORY NOTE

According to Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) estimates, Filipinos over sixty (60)
years of age is set to triple in the next thirty (30) years. From 7.6 million in 2015, the
number of senior citizens is expected to reach 22.6 million in 2045. The number of
those aged 60-year-old and over will is estimated to comprise 15.9 percent of the
population‘. This is a huge leap from the 7.5 percent composition of senior citizens in
the general population.

This projection poses an immense economic challenge that must be addressed early
on. As the population continues to age, there is a need to sustain the support for
ageing citizens becomes more pertinent. Such provision of social protection is a
necessity if society aims to give senior citizens with dignity as they further age.

The social pension envisioned in this legislative proposal is to allow senior citizens to
cope up with the rising cost of living.

First, a monthly social pension of one thousand pesos a month will be provided to all
senior citizens aged 65 years old and above. Second, indigent senior citizens aged
between 60 to 64 years old. Third, five (5) years from the effectivity of the proposed
law, all senior citizens shall be entitled to the social pension provided for under the
proposed social pension law.

To ensure that fluctuations in the daily subsistence expenses and other needs of
seniors are taken into account, this bill proposes a mandatory review of the social
pension based on prevailing economic indicators.

Thus, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

* Philippine Statistics Authority, “2010 Census-Based Population Projections in Collaboration with the Inter-
‘Agency Working Group on Population Projections.”



TOMA

[TO S. VILLARIN


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Third Regular Session
9040
House Bill No.

Introduced by AKBAYAN Party List Representative Tomasito S. Villarin

AN ACT

GRANTING UNIVERSAL PENSION TO ALL SENIOR CITIZENS AGED SIXTY-
FIVE (65) YEARS AND ABOVE, AND FOR THIS PURPOSE INTRODUCING
PARAGRAPH (I) IN SECTION 2 AND AMENDING SECTION 5 (H)(1) OF
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7432, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS “AN ACT TO MAXIMIZE THE
CONTRIBUTION OF SENIOR CITIZENS TO NATION BUILDING, GRANT
BENEFITS AND SPECIAL PRIVILEGES AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES”, AS
AMENDED BY REPUBIC ACT NO. 9257, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE
“EXPANDED SENIOR CITIZENS ACT OF 2003”, AND AS FURTHER AMENDED BY
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9994, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE “EXPANDED SENIOR
CITIZENS ACT OF 2010”

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:
SECTION 1. This Act shall be known as the “Senior Citizens Universal Pension Act.”

SEC. 2. A paragraph (i) is hereby inserted in Section 2 of Republic Act No. 7432, as
amended, to read as follows:

“() 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 PESOS (PHP 1,000.00) PER MONTH.”

SEC. 3. Section 5 (h) (1) of the same Act, as amended, is hereby amended to read as
follows:

“(1) Social Pension


[Indigent] ALL senior citizens SIXTY-FIVE (65) OLD AND ABOVE shall
be entitled to a monthly [stipend] SOCIAL PENSION amounting to [five
hundred pesos (Php 500.00)] TO AT LEAST ONE THOUSAND PESOS
(PHP 1,000.00) 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.]

IDIGENT SENIOR CITIZENS AGED SIXTY (60) YEARS OLD TO
SIXTY-FOUR (64) YEARS OLD SHALL BE ENTITLED TO A MONTHLY
SOCIAL PENSION OF AT LEAST ONE-THOUSAND PESOS (PHP
1,000.00) TO AUGMENT THE DAILY SUBSISTENCE AND OTHER
MEDICAL NEEDS OF SENIOR CITIZENS.

THE AMOUNT OF SOCIAL PENSION SHALL BE REVIEWED AND,
WHEN NECESSARY, INCREASED BY THE DSWD EVERY TWO (2)
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:
PROVIDED, THAT THE SOCIAL PENSION SHALL NOT BE LESS
THAN THE AMOUNT INITIALLY SPECIFIED IN THIS ACT.

AFTER FIVE (5) YEARS OF THE EFFECTIVITY OF THIS ACT, ALL
SENIOR CITIZENS SHALL BE ENTITLED TO A MONTHLY SOCIAL
PENSION AT THE PREVAILING RATE, WHICH SHALL NOT BE LESS
THAN ONE-THOUSAND PESOS (PHP 1,000.00).”

SEC. 4. 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. All laws, decrees, executive orders or rules and regulations contrary to or
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 6. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official
Gazette or in any newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,