{) Sen
SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE —). TAGE FEED
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
Second Regular Session ) ‘18 MAR I9 P4207

SENATE

S.No. 2750 re “i

Introduced by Senator Grace Poe

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR A UNIVERSAL SOCIAL PENSION FOR SENIOR CITIZENS,
FURTHER AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE R.A. NO. 7432, AS AMENDED BY
R.A. NO. 9994, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE “EXPANDED SENIOR
CITIZENS ACT OF 2010”

Explanatory Note

According to a study entitled Population Ageing in the Philippines: Issues and
Challenges, the elderly population in the country is increasing faster than the growth
of the total population.! As of 2010, there are 6.5 million elderly Filipinos in the
country, accounting for 6.9% of the population. By 2030, the percentage of elderly
Filipinos is projected to reach 11.5%.

Senior citizens are an extremely vulnerable group. They encounter many challenges
which are difficult to hurdle due to their old age. As such, they require special
protection from the State. The drafters of the 1987 Constitution recognized this and
included provisions on the protection of the elderly in our fundamental law.

Income insecurity in old age is one of the major issues faced by the elderly.
According to the Coalition of Services for the Elderly (COSE), the likelihood of finding
employment falls sharply after the age of 60.? Thus, it is harder for senior citizens to
get the income they need to live comfortably.

Senior citizens rely on other sources of income, such as assistance from their
children and on contributory pensions from the Social Security System and the
Government Service Insurance System.’ However, these sources are often not
enough. On one hand, financial support from one’s children is often a “last resort”,
and is often limited due to other priorities.* On the other hand, contributory pensions
are often limited in coverage. Over 70% of the economically active population are

+ Carlos, C. R. Population Ageing in the Philippines. 2017.

2 Coalition of Services for the Elderly. The Feasibility of a Social Pension in the Philippines (January
2017).

> Ibid.

* Ibid.



not contributing to a pension.> And receipt of a contributory pension is not a
guarantee of income security.

This measure thus proposes the provision of a Universal Social Pension for all senior
citizens. It seeks to further amend the relevant provisions of R.A. No. 7432, as
amended by R.A. No. 9994, otherwise known as the "Expanded Senior Citizens Act
of 2010." If this measure is enacted into law, all senior citizens will be provided with
a pension of One Thousand Five Hundred Pesos (Php 1,500.00). To ease the
potential shock on our government's budget, this bill proposes that senior citizens
covered by the SSS, GSIS and the pension for military veterans will not be provided
until three (3) years after the Act’s effectivity.

Speedy approval of this measure is eagerly sought.

o2_—
\CE POE

5 Ibid.



14
15
16
7

a enale

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) Soot Ole of the Becretary
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
Second Regular Session ) 18 R19 PanT

SENAT,
No 1750 wee h

Introduced by Senator Grace Poe

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR A UNIVERSAL SOCIAL PENSION FOR SENIOR CITIZENS,
FURTHER AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE R.A. NO. 7432, AS AMENDED BY
R.A. 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. Number (1), Paragraph (H), Section 5 of Republic Act No. 7432, as
amended by Republic Act No. 9994, otherwise known as the "Expanded Senior
Citizens Act of 2010” is hereby further amended to read as follows:

“Sec. 5. Government Assistance.- The government shall provide the following:
“(5) Additional Government Assistance

“(1) Social Pension

“[indigent] ALL senior citizens shall be entitled to a monthly stipend

amounting to [Five—hundred—peses—{Php500.00)] AT LEAST ONE
THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED PESOS (PHP1,500.00) to augment [the]

THEIR daily subsistence and other medical needs. [ot senior citizens, subject
. c . a DSWD}

PROVIDED, THAT SENIOR CITIZENS CURRENTLY COVERED BY THE
SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM, THE GOVERNMENT SERVICE



INSURANCE SYSTEM, AND THE PENSION SYSTEM FOR MILITARY
VETERANS UNDER R.A. NO. 6948 SHALL NOT BE ELIGIBLE FOR THIS
BENEFIT IN THE FIRST THREE (3) YEARS OF THE IMPLEMENTATION
OF THIS ACT.

WHEN NECESSARY, THE DSWD MAY INCREASE OR REVISE THE

AMOUNT OF THE SOCIAL PENSION: PROVIDED, THAT THE SOCIAL

PENSION SHALL NOT BE LESS THAN THE AMOUNT SPECIFIED IN

THE IMMEDIATELY PRECEEDING PARAGRAPHS.”

Sec. 2. Separability Clause.- If any provision of this Act is declared invalid or
unconstitutional, the remaining provisions not affected shall continue to be in full
force and effect.

Sec. 3. Repealing Clause.- All laws, decrees, executive orders or rules and
regulations contrary to or inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified
accordingly.

Sec. 4. Effectivity Clause.- This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days from its
publication in the Official Gazette.

Approved.