TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
SENATE 
S. No. *^1
25 JlJL-3 P3 -54
Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada
AN ACT
GRANTING UNIVERSAL SOCIAL PENSION TO SENIOR CITIZENS, 
AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7432, AS AMENDED, 
ENTITLED "AN ACT TO MAXIMIZE THE CONTRIBUTION OF SENIOR 
CITIZENS TO NATION BUILDING, GRANT BENEFITS AND SPECIAL 
PRIVILEGES AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES"
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Article II, Section 9 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution declares that "[t]he 
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."
Article XV, Section 4 provides that "[t]he family has the duty to care for its 
elderly members but the State may also do so through just programs of social 
security."
The Philippines is moving toward an aging population. By 2030, Filipinos 60 
years old and over would have reached 13.2 million1 or 11 percent of the population.
1 https://psa.gov.ph/sites/default/files/dhsd/Statistical%20Tables%20CBPP_0.pdf
1


Not all senior citizens are as lucky as those who receive pension or have 
economic subsistence to support their daily needs. In fact, many of them are forced 
to find employment in order to supply their own and their family's needs.
In 2011, the Social Welfare department began the social pension for 
indigent senior citizens program2 by giving cash assistance to 138,960 indigent 
senior citizens who are 77 years and older. In 2015, the age requirement was 
lowered to 65 years old, and in 2016, lowered further to 60 years old as mandated 
by Republic Act No. 9994 or the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010.
This measure seeks to standardize the distribution of social pension to all 
senior citizens regardless of their social status. Under this bill, indigent senior citizens 
are entitled to a monthly stipend of One thousand pesos (P1,000.00). Senior citizens 
who are not considered as indigents shall be entitled to a monthly stipend of Five
hundred pesos (P500.00), 
which shall be increased 
to One thousand pesos
(P1,000.00) after five years.
This is a form of social protection and economic empowerment measure 
that will help our beloved senior citizens have sort some of financial freedom amid
the soaring prices of basic 
commodities and their medicine needs. The universal
social pension, especially for underprivileged senior citizens, will also greatly improve 
their quality of health, increase their feeling of social inclusion, and help them find 
dignity in themselves despite their age or economic status.
This legislation is crucial to ensure that the country adequately supports an 
aging demography. Hence, approval of the proposed Universal Social Pension Act is 
earnestly sought.
INGGQY EJERCITO ESTRADA
2 https://pidswebs.pids.gov.ph/CDN/PUBLICATIONS/pidspn2202.pdf
2


TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
SENATE 
S. No. 71
25 JUL-3 P3--54
R:V1;
Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada
AN ACT
GRANTING UNIVERSAL SOCIAL PENSION TO SENIOR CITIZENS, 
AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7432, AS AMENDED, 
ENTITLED "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:
1 
Section 1, Section 2 of Republic Act No. 7432, as amended, is hereby further
2 
amended to read as follows:
3 
"Sec. 2. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this
4 
Act, these terms are defined as follows:
5 
"(a) XXX
6 
"x X X
7 
"(i) Pension Provider refers to any government office or
8 
agency, or any private entity which provides pensions to
9 
entitled recipients on the basis of contributions, gratuity, or
10 
as mandated by any governing law or issuance, including the
11 
Social Security System (SSS), the Government Service
12 
Insurance System (GSIS), and the Pension and Gratuity
13 
Management Center (PGMC), AMONG OTHERS; and
14 
"(j) UNIVERSAL Social Pension refers to [the] A NON-
15 
CONTRIBUTORY MONTHLY monetary grant from the


1 
government to support the daily subsistence and medical
2 
needs of senior citizens [which shall not bo loss than One
3 
thousand pesos (Pl.OOO.OO) per month]".
4 
Sec. 2. Section 5(h)(1) of Repubiic Act No. 7432, as amended, is hereby
5 
further amended to read as foilows:
6 
"Sec. 5. Government Assistance. - The government
7 
shall provide the following:
8 
"(a) XXX
9 
"X X X
10 
"(h) Additional Government Assistance
11 
"(1) [Mandatory] UNIVERSAL Social Pension
12 
"(A) Indigent senior citizens shall be entitled to a
13 
monthly stipend amounting to [not less than] AT LEAST
14 
One thousand pesos (P1,000.00) to augment the daily
15 
subsistence and other medical needs [of senior citizens].
16 
"(B) SENIOR CITIZENS WHO ARE PREVIOUSLY
17 
NOT CONSIDERED AS INDIGENTS SHALL BE
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ENTITLED TO A MONTHLY STIPEND AMOUNTING TO
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AT LEAST FIVE HUNDRED PESOS (P500.00) UPON
20 
THE EFFECTIVITY OF THIS ACT: PROVIDED, THAT
21 
WITHIN FIVE (5) YEARS ALL SENIOR CITIZENS
22 
SHALL BE ENTITLED TO A UNIVERSAL SOCIAL
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PENSION EQUIVALENT TO A MONTHLY STIPEND OF
24 
AT LEAST ONE THOUSAND PESOS (P1,000.00)
25 
REGARDLESS OF ANY OTHER PENSION BENEFITS
26 
THEY MAY RECEIVE FROM OTHER PENSION
27 
PROVIDERS: PROVIDED, FURTHER, THAT ANY
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SENIOR CITIZEN MAY WAIVE THIS UNIVERSAL
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SOCIAL PENSION.
30 
"[The DSWD shall, subject to the approval of the
31 
Department—©f—Budget—arid—Management—(DBM),—m
32 
consultation with other stakeholders, review and, when


1 
ncccGGary, adjust the Dmount of the social pension every
2 
two (2) years after the cffcctivity of this Act, taking into
3 
account the present consumer price index as published by
4 
the PSA and relevant Gconomic indicators, as roportcd and
5 
published—by—pertinent—government—agencies—aod
6 
authorities.]
7 
"THE DSWD SHALL, IN CONSULTATION WITH
8 
THE DEPARTMENT OF BUDGET AND MANAGEMENT
9 
(DBM), AS WELL AS OTHER STAKEHOLDERS, REVIEW
10 
AND IF NECESSARY, ADJUST THE AMOUNT OF
11 
UNIVERSAL SOCIAL PENSION EVERY TWO (2) YEARS
12 
AFTER THE FULL IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS ACT,
13 
TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE VARIOUS NEEDS OF
14 
SENIOR CITIZENS AND RELEVANT ECONOMIC
15 
INDICATORS, AS REPORTED AND PUBLISHED BY
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PERTINENT GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND
17 
AUTHORITIES: PROVIDED, THAT THE SOCIAL
18 
PENSION SHALL NOT BE LESS THAN THE AMOUNT
19 
INITIALLY SPECIFIED IN THIS ACT. THE
20 
IMPLEMENTATION, DISTRIBUTION, AND
21 
MANAGEMENT OF THE SOCIAL PENSION SHALL BE
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TRANSFERRED FROM THE DSWD TO THE NATIONAL
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COMMISSION OF SENIOR CITIZENS (NCSC) WITHIN
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A PERIOD NOT EXCEEDING THREE (3) YEARS FROM
25 
THE EFFECTIVITY OF THIS ACT.
26 
"X X X."
27 
Sec. 3. Appropriations. - The universal social pension for senior citizens shall
28 
be added to the regular appropriations of the DSWD in the general appropriations
29 
act, and thereafter, to the Nationai Commission of Senior Citizens, upon full transfer
30 
of the implementation, distribution, and management of the social pension.
31 
Sec. 4. Impiementing Ruies and Reguiations. - Within ninety (90) days from
32 
the effectivity of this Act, the Chairperson of the National Commission of Senior


1 
Citizens shall formulate and adopt amendments to the existing rules and regulations
2 
implementing Republic Act No. 11916 to carry out the objectives of this Act, in
3 
consultation with other relevant agencies and stakeholders.
4 
Sec. 5. Separability Clause. - If any portion or provision of this Act were to be
5 
declared unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any provision not affected
6 
thereby shall remain in force and effect.
7 
Sec. 6. Repealing Clause. - Republic Act No. 7432, as amended by Republic
8 
Act Nos. 9257 and 9994, otherwise known as the "Expanded Senior Citizens Act of
9 
2010" and Republic Act No. 11916 are hereby amended. All other laws, ordinances,
10 
orders, rules, regulations and other issuances or parts thereof which are inconsistent
11 
with this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.
12 
Sec. 7. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
13 
publication in the Official Gazette or in any newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,