Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by  
REPRESENTATIVE FRANZ S. PUMAREN 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
According to a World Bank study on disability, an estimated one billion people, or 15 
percent of the world’s population live with some form of disability.1 In the Philippines, according 
to the 2016 National Disability Prevalence Survey (NDPS), around 12 percent of Filipinos age 15 
or older experienced severe disability. Furthermore, 47 percent experienced moderate disability 
while 23 percent has mild disability. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Persons 
with Disabilities (PWD) are the world’s largest minority.2 Needless to say, the pervasiveness of 
disability tends to occur higher in developing countries, and in the lower socioeconomic strata of 
the population.3 
Not less than the Constitution (Article XIII Section 11) provides safeguards for the welfare 
of PWDs stating that “[t]he 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, elderly disabled, women, and children.” Similarly, Republic Act No. 7227 or 
the “Magna Carta of Disabled Persons” provide for a comprehensive policy for the improvement 
of the well-being of PWDs ensuring them equitable access to social services, education, 
employment, civic participation, and governance. Said law provides all PWDs privileges such as 
20 percent discount on all goods and services such as store purchases, medical and dental care, 
theater activities, and travel. 
1 Disability Inclusion. World Bank. https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/disability. 
2 Disability and Health. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/en/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/disability-
and-health. 
3 Disability and Poverty in the Philippines. The Borgen Project. https://borgenproject.org/disability-and-poverty-in-
the-philippines. 
August 30, 2022
1:10 pm
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Despite this, PWDs still experience discrimination most especially in accessing basic social 
services in addition to the stigma they experience because of their disabilities. Disability may also 
increase the risk of poverty because of a lack of opportunities for employment and education, 
discrimination through lower wages, and increased cost of living. Inextricably, poverty may 
increase one’s risk of disability through inadequate access to health care and education, unsafe 
working conditions, and lack of access to sanitation.4 
It is the objective of this bill to provide a mechanism for PWDs to be granted a monthly 
social pension amounting to Two thousand pesos (Php 2,000) disability allowance to supplement 
the basic income and provide support for expenses to lighten the burden suffered by PWDs and 
their families. The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the National 
Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA) shall make sure that a database of all PWDs is created to 
ensure that social pensions are effectively distributed and that the system for implementing the 
provisions of this measure is properly monitored. 
Given the foregoing, the passage of this measure is earnestly sought. 
FRANZ S. PUMAREN 
  3rd District, Quezon City 
4 Disability Inclusion. Ibid. 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by  
REPRESENTATIVE FRANZ S. PUMAREN 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR THE SOCIAL PENSION OF  
INDIGENT PERSONS WITH DISABILITY (PWDs), AND APPROPRIATING 
FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “Social Pension for Indigent Persons 
with Disability Act.” 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is the policy of the State to 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. The State shall provide priority 
needs of vulnerable sectors such as persons with disabilities. In pursuance of this end, social 
protection measures such as the grant of monthly social pension shall be extended to indigent 
persons with disabilities. 
SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. – For purposes of this Act, the following terms are defined as 
follows: 
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a. “Indigent Person” – refers to a person who has no visible means of income or support, or 
whose income may not be sufficient for the subsistence or basic needs of his/her family, 
as may be determined by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). 
b. “Persons with Disabilities (PWDs)” – refer to individuals suffering from restriction of 
different abilities as a result of a mental, physical or sensory disability, impairment, and 
handicap to perform an activity in the manner within the range considered normal for a 
human being. 
c. “Indigent Person with Disability” – refers to a person with disability who has no pension, 
permanent source of income, or regular support from his/her relatives to meet his/her 
basic needs. 
d. “Impairment” – is any loss, diminution, or aberration of psychological, physiological, or 
anatomical structure of function. 
e. “Disability” refers to: 
i. 
A physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more 
psychological, physiological, or anatomical functions of an individual or activities 
of such individual; 
ii. 
A record of such an impairment; or 
iii. 
Being regarded as having such an impairment. 
f. “Handicap” – refers to a disadvantage for a given individual resulting from an impairment 
or a disability, that limits or prevents the functions or activity, that is considered normal 
given the age and sex of the individual. 
 
SECTION 4. Coverage. – All indigent PWDs, as verified and certified by the DSWD and the 
National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA) shall be covered by the provisions of this Act.  
 
The eligible PWD shall be entitled to a monthly social pension from the DSWD amounting to Two 
thousand pesos (Php 2,000.00) to augment his/her daily subsistence, subject to existing 
government auditing rules and regulations. 
 
SECTION 5. Database of PWDs. – To implement effectively, a database of all eligible indigent 
PWDs should be created by the NCDA and DSWD. Renewed efforts must be made to collect 


comprehensive, accurate and updated information that can be disaggregated according to a wide 
range of variables as a basis for effective planning and implementation services, and monitoring, 
and evaluation. The creation and management of this database shall adhere strictly to the 
standards set forth in Republic Act No. 10173, otherwise known as the “Data Privacy Act of 2012.” 
 
SECTION 6. Policy on PWD Identification Cards. – The issuance of PWD Identification Cards 
pursuant to Republic Act No. 7277, otherwise known as the “Magna Carta for Persons with 
Disabilities,” as amended, along with other relevant administrative issuances and local ordinances, 
shall incorporate the information necessary for the granting of the monthly social pension to 
eligible PWDs. The issuance of an authentic PWD Identification Card is a pre-requisite to qualify 
as a beneficiary under this Act.  
 
SECTION 7. Penal Provisions. – The penalties shall apply to the following: 
 
a. Any PWD, or his/her parent or his/her relative of any degree of consanguinity or affinity, 
or any third person found to be deliberately committing any fraudulent act of enrolling a 
PWD to the program when said person is not indigent shall suffer the following: 
i. 
For the first violation, a fine of not less than Twenty-five thousand pesos (Php 
25,000.00) but not exceeding Fifty thousand pesos (Php 50,000.00); and 
ii. 
For any subsequent violation, a fine of not less than Fifty thousand pesos 
(Php50,000.00) but not exceeding One hundred thousand pesos (Php 
100,000.00). 
b. Any person, natural or judicial, violating any provision of this Act and its Implementing 
Rules and Regulations (IRR), except violations pertaining to Subsection a of this Section, 
shall be penalized with a fine of not less than Fifty thousand pesos (Php 50,000.00) but 
not exceeding One hundred thousand pesos (Php 100,000.00). If the violator is a 
corporation, organization or any similar juridical entity, the officials directly involved and 
responsible shall be liable therefor. 
c. If any PWD, or his/her parent or his/her relative of any degree of consanguinity or affinity 
or any third person fails to settle the fines specific on Subsections a and b of this Section, 
the penalty of aresto mayor in its maximum period shall be imposed. 
 


SECTION 8. Appropriations. – The amount necessary for the implementation of this Act shall be 
included in the annual General Appropriations of the year following its enactment into law and 
thereafter. 
 
SECTION 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within sixty (60) days from the effectivity 
of this Act, the DSWD, in consultation with the NCDA, Department of Interior and Local 
Government, Department of Health, and other relevant government agencies and non-
government organizations, shall issue the necessary rules and regulations to implement the 
provisions of this Act. 
 
SECTION 10. Suppletory Clause. – The provisions of Republic Act No. 7277, otherwise known 
as the “Magna Carta for Persons with Disabilities,” as amended by Republic Act No. 10754 and 
Republic Act No. 9442, have suppletory effect to the provisions of this Act. 
 
SECTION 11. Separability Clause. – If any provision or part of this Act is declared invalid or 
unconstitutional, other provisions not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect. 
 
SECTION 12. Repealing Clause. – All other laws, decrees, executive orders, proclamations, other 
issuances, rules, and regulations, or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are 
hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly. 
 
SECTION 13. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days from its publication in the 
Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
 
 
Approved,