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Republic of the Philippines

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES RECEIVED m
Quezon City, Metro Manila XL  DATEAugust 20, 2025
* TIME 2:09 pm
\e BY__Jonah
TWENTIETH CONGRESS Xo

Wo Inveks

First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 3901

Introduced by Representative Irwin C. Tieng

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Itis recognized in our 1987 Constitution that although the family has the obligation to care for its
elderly members, the State may also provide just programs of social security.' Currently, senior
citizens receive different kinds of pension such as contributory pensions (Social Security System,
Government Service Insurance System, and others), and social pension for indigent senior
citizens in the amount of 1,000 pesos (from 500 pesos). Sadly, thirty-eight percent (38%) of the

senior citizens do not receive any pension at all?

With the universal social pension, the State recognizes the contribution of all senior citizens in
nation-building. It closes the pension coverage gap, the thirty-eight percent, and provides a
strong foundation for the development of the pension system.’ A study shows that compared to
indigent senior citizen social pension, universal social pension is more transparent and easy to

understand which creates less space for corruption and clientelism. *

The universal social pension will not only augment the daily subsistence and other medical needs

of senior citizens but it will also boost their morale as they receive it without any qualifications.

* Section 4, Article XV ofthe 1987 Philippine Constitution

2 Hor, David, Charles Knox-Wydmanov, and Aura Sevilla. "The Feasibility ofa Universal Social Pension inthe Philippines”. Quezon City
Coalition of Servies for the Elderly, and Help Age Intemational, 2017

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In view hereof, immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

N.C. TIENG)
resentative
ict V, Manila


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Quezon City, Metro Manila

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular S

sssion

HOUSE BILL NO. 3901

Introduced by Representative Irwin C. Tieng

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 in enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:

SECTION 1. Section 2 of Republic Act No. 7432, as amended, is hereby further amended
to read as follows:

“SEC. 2. Definition of Terms. — For purposes of this Act, these terms are defined
as follows

XXX XXX XXX

“() UNIVERSAL SOCIAL PENSION REFERS TO THE MONTHLY
STIPEND OR MONETARY GRANT FROM THE GOVERNMENT TO.
SUPPORT THE DAILY SUBSISTENCE AND MEDICAL NEEDS FOR
SENIOR CITIZENS WHICH SHALL NOT BE LESS THAN ONE THOUSAND,
PESOS (P 1,000.00) PER MONTH).”


SEC. 2.
follows:

. Section 6 of the same Act, as amended, is hereby further amended to read as

“SEC. 5. Government Assistance. ~ The government shall provide the
following:

XXX XXX XXX

“(h) Additional Government Assistance
“ (1) UNIVERSAL Social Pension

[Indigent] ALL senior citizens SHALL BE ENTITLED TO A MONTHLY
SOCIAL PENSION OF AT LEAST ONE THOUSAND PESOS (P 1,000.00)
to support their daily subsistence and medical needs.

[The DSWD shall, subject to the approval of the Department of Budget and
Management (DBM), in consultation with other stakeholders, review and, when
necessary, adjust the amount of the social pension every two (2) years after the
effectivity of this Act, taking into account the present consumer price index as
published by the PSA and relevant economic indicators, as reported and published
by pertinent government agencies and authorities.] “THE DSWD SHALL, IN
CONSULTATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF BUDGET AND
MANAGEMENT (DBM), AS WELL AS OTHER STAKEHOLDERS,
REVIEW AND IF NECESSARY, ADJUST THE AMO! rT OF
UNIVERSAL SOCIAL PENSION EVERY TWO (2) YEARS AFTER THE
FULL IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS ACT, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT
THE VARIOUS NEEDS OF SENIOR CITIZENS AND RELEVANT

PROVIDED, THAT THE SOCIAL PENSION SHALL NOT BE LESS
THAN THE AMOUNT INITIALLY SPECIFIED IN THIS ACT. THE
IMPLEMENTATION, DISTRIBUTION, AND MANAGEMENT OF THE
SOCIAL PENSION SHALL BE TRANSFERRED FROM THE DSWD TO
THE NATIONAL COMMISSION OF SENIOR CITIZENS (NCSC)
WITHIN A PERIOD NOT EXCEEDING THREE (3) YEARS FROM THE
EFFECTIVITY OF THIS ACT.”


SEC. 3. Appropriations. ~ The universal social pension for senior citizens shall be added
to the regular appropriations of the DSWD in the general appropriations act, and thereafter, to the
National Commission of Senior Citizens, upon full transfer of the implementation, distribution,
and management of the social pension.

SEC. 4. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within ninety (90) days from the
effectivity of this Act, the Chairperson of the National Commission of Senior Citizens shall
formulate and adopt amendments to the existing rules and regulations implementing Republic
Act No, 11916 to carry out the objectives of this Act, in consultation with other relevant agencies
and stakeholders.

SEC. 5. Separability Clause. — If any provision of this Act is declared unconstitutional or
invalid, other parts or provisions hereof not affected shall continue to be in full force and effect.

SEC. 6. Repealing Clause. ~ Republic Act No. 7432, as amended by Republic Act Nos.
9257 and 9994, otherwise known as the “Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010”, and Republic
Act No, 11916 are hereby amended. All other laws, ordinances, orders, rules, regulations and
other issuances or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed,
amended or modified accordingly.

SEC. 7. Effectivity, — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in
the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,