Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILLNO.__2958

Introduced by Rep. Winston “Winnie” Castelo

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Good governance, in the context of sound and rational budgeting and fiscal
management, dictates that a Special Social Pension Program for a particular population segment
of our senior citizens be put in place to fully democratize social and welfare benefits to those in
need, or otherwise indigent.

Indigent senior citizens shall be liberally defined as those who are frail, sickly, with
disability and without pension or permanent source of income or regular support from relatives to
mest basic needs such as that determined by the DSWD National Household Targeting System
for Povery Reduction (NHTS-PR) :

This conception translates in 1.3 million senior citizens who shall enjoy social pension
from government starting off with ARMM, those from Regions V, VI and Vil where poverty
incidence are in significant high. This however, does not limit entitlement for senior citizens who
are assessed to be qualified and deserving of the entitlement under this proposed program that
initially targets poor or indigent senior citizens.

This bill is conceived to hit the ground running. Thus, it contemplates an earmarking of
government state subsidies for senior citizens in some order of priority as herein proposed, as
follows:

1. 80 years old and below shalll constitute first priority
2. 70 to 79 years old shall constitute second priority
3. 60 to 69 years old shall constitute third priority

At this juncture, there are LGUs that grant quarterly allowances for senior citizens, a
mandatory PhilHealth coverage under its National Health Insurance Program, as well ‘as
incentives as those granted under Republic Act No. 9994.

Thus, this proposed bill contemplates the a (P1,000.00) as
monthly pension in accordance with the order of priofiy i ting system based
‘on age until such time that every senior citizen @ social pension
sought for under this measure.

‘The immediate passage of this bill is the


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 2958

Introduced by Rep. Winston “Winnie” Castelo

AN ACT
GRANTING SOCIAL PENSION TO POOR OR INDIGENT SENIOR CITIZENS
IN THE AMOUNT OF ONE THOUSAND PESOS (P1,000.00) MONTHLY
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted in the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Republic of the Philippines
in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. This Act shall be known as the Social Pension for Indigent Senior Citizens
Act of 2013.

‘SEC. 2. Every poor or indigent senior citizen based on set eligibility and pertinent
requirements as may be determined by the Department of Social Welfare and Development shall
henceforth receive a monthly social pension in the amount of one thousand pesos (P1,000.00).

SEC. 3. Highest priority shall be extended to those poor or indigent senior citizens 80
years old and above, followed by those 70 to 79 years old and further by those 60 to 69 years of
age, provided however, that they should not be receiving pension from GSIS, SSS or AFP-MBAI
and any other insurance company.

SEC. 4. The DSWD shall lave appropriate rues, regustions, ane guidelines to property
implement the provision of this Act.

SEC. 5 This Act shall take effect fifteen days after its approval and its publication in at
least four (4) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,