SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
Second Regular Session 
) 
'15 
MAY -4 P5 :24 
SENATE 
S.B. No. 
2746 
Introduced by: Senator Paolo Benigno "Bam" A. Aquino IV 
AN ACT PROVIDING FOR ENHANCED SOCIAL PROTECTION FOR THE WORKING POOR AND 
PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
For six decades now, the Social Security System (SSS) has provided social protection to 
Filipinos against likelihoods and eventualities such as disability and injury, Sickness, maternity, 
old age, and death. 
Our contributions to SSS translate to investments into our future and the future of our 
family. Contributions give citizens access to benefits such as disability aid, retirement relief, and 
life insurance. SSS also offers loans at reasonable rates that can be used for various purposes 
like putting a child through school or engaging in a small business. 
These benefits can make a difference to fellow Filipinos living at subsistence level. As 
they earn below P100,OOO.OO annually, their contributions, unfortunately, are not regular. 
While the poorest of the poor are covered by our social protection programs, only 6.5% 
of the 12 million self-employed Filipinos are paying their SSS contributions. 
It is a lost opportunity for our countrymen that we consider the working poor, our 
farmers, fishermen, market and street vendors, tricycle drivers and the millions of who have 
micro bUSinesses across the country. 
In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
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SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
Second Regular Session 
) 
'15 
MAY -4 P5 :24 
SENATE2746 
S.B. No. ___ _ 
Introduced by: Senator Paolo Benigno "Bam" A. Aquino IV 
AN ACT PROVIDING FOR ENHANCED SOCIAL PROTECTION FOR THE WORKING POOR AND 
PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Working Poor Protection Act of 
2015" . 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policies. - The State shall uplift the standard of living and 
quality of life of all Filipinos. Towards this end, the government shall undertake a 
comprehensive approach to poverty eradication that will consists of multi-layered programs 
which address the specific needs of the near poor, the working poor, and the poorest of the 
poor. 
The State affirms its commitment to the millennium development goals and adheres to 
its international standards on working conditions and social protection floors. Specifically, the 
government shall provide assistance in order that the near poor and the working poor can 
enjoy the benefit of meaningful social protection against the hazards of disability, sickness, 
maternity, old-age, death, and other contingencies resulting in the loss of income or financial 
burden. 
SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. -
a) Social Protection refers to programs of the government aimed to protect workers 
against contingencies resulting in loss of income or financial burden. 
b) Working Poor shall refer to a worker with an average monthly income that is not 
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sufficient to place a typical Filipino householdl above the poverty line as defined by the 
Philippine Statistics Authority or such other g~vernment agencies mandated to prepare 
the official poverty statistics ofthe country. 
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c) Near Poor shall refer to a worker with an average monthly income that is sufficient to 
place a typical Filipino household above, by I no more than 20%, the poverty line as 
defined by the Philippine Statistics Authority or such other government agencies 
mandated to prepare the official poverty statistics of the country. 
ARTICLE II 
ENHANCED SOCIAL PROTECTION 
FOR SELF-EMPLOYED WORKERS 
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SECTION 4. Enhanced Social Protection for the Working Poor. - All workers, whether 
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employed or self-employed, shall be covered by the Social Security System (SSS), including the 
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Employee's Compensation (Ee) Fund, the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (Philhealth), 
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and the Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-IBIG) and they shall be entitled to all the 
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benefits in accordance with the pertinent provisions provided by law. 
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For the purposes of this Act, a typical Filipino household shall be understood to have 
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two adults working full-time. A working poor who has a monthly income that is at least P2,250 
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but less than P8,260 shall be entitled to a counterpart government contribution for every valid 
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monthly contribution to the SSS and the EC Fund based on the following schedule: 
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Range of income 
Monthly salary credit 
Total Contribution 
SE's 
SSS 
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contribution 
Gov't contribution for SSS 
SE's EC contribution 
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P2,250 - P2,749.99 
P2,500 P275.00 
20% 
80% 
100% 
13 
P2,750 - P3,249.99 
P3,000 P330.00 
33 Y.% 
66%% 
100% 
14 
P3,250 - P3,749.99 
P3,500 P385.00 
426/7% 
571/7% 
100% 
15 
P3,750 - P4,249.99 
P4,000 P440.00 
SO% 
50% 
100% 
16 
P4,250 - P4,749.99 
P4,500 P495.00 
S5 5/9 % 
444/9% 
100% 
17 
P4,750 - P5,249.99 
PS,OOO PS50.00 
60% 
40% 
100% 
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P5,2S0 - P5,749.99 
P5,SOO P60S.00 
637/11% 
364/11% 
100% 
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P5,7S0 - P6,249.99 
P6,000 P660.00 
66%% 
33 Y.% 
100% 
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P6,2S0 - P6,749.99 
P6,500 P71S.00 
693/13% 
3010/13% 
100% 
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P6,750 - P7,249.99 
P7,000 P770.00 
784/7% 
213/7% 
100% 
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P72S0 - P7,749.99 
P7,500 P82S.00 
86%% 
13Y.% 
100% 
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P7750 - P8,259.99 
P8,000 P880.00 
93%% 
6X% 
100% 
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Provided, that contributions from government and the working poor shall be subject to 
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review by the ECC and the SSS, taking into consideration poverty thresholds provided by the 
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Philippines Statistics Authority not later than five (5) years after the effectivity of this Act and 
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every six (6) years thereafter. 
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SECTION 5. Government Contribution. - The government contribution shall be paid only 
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upon payment of the contribution by the working poor, subject to the schedule of payment 
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prepared and prescribed by the SSS. 
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ARTICLE /II 
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ADMINISTRATION AND FUNDING 
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SECTION 6. Social Protection Fund. A Social Protection Fund is hereby established under the 
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budget of the Social Security System. This fund shall be used solely for the purpose of this Act 
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and may not be used for other social protection programs of the government. This fund will be 
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sourced from the following: 
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a) Ten percent (10%) of the share of the national government in all lotteries 
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conducted by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office to be used solely for medical and 
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health-related benefits; 
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b) Ten percent (10%) of the share of the national government in the earnings of 
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the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation; and 
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c) Ten percent (10%) of the eighty percent (80%) ofthe remaining balance ofthe 
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incremental revenue derived from Republic Act No. 10351 allocated for the universal health 
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care under the National Health Insurance Program, the attainment of the millennium 
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developmental goal and health awareness programs. 
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SECTION 7. Administration of the Fund. The Social Protection Fund shall be 
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administered by the SSS as a separate and distinct fund from the 555 investment Reserve Fund. 
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The government contributions provided for under this Act shall be drawn from the Fund. 
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SECTION 8. Responsibilities of the SSS. The SSS shall have the following responsibilities: 
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a) Administer the Social Protection Fund, including the preparation of an annual 
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financial report; 
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b) Device systems and procedures for the timely computation of aggregate 
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government matching contributions; and 
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c) Undertake coverage campaigns among the working poor. 
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SECTION 9. Identification of the Working Poor. On a nation-wide bases, the 
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government shall select the working poor using a standardized targeting system and shall verify 
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their monthly average income. The government shall conduct a revalidation of this selection 
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every three (3) years. 
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ARTICLE IV 
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MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS 
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SECTION 10. Transitory Provision. Section 6 of this Act shall be implemented at the 
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beginning of the year following the approval of this Act. 
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SECTION 11. Implementing Rules and Regulations. Within six (6) months from the 
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effectivity of this Act, the Lead Convenor of the National Anti-Poverty Commission, the 
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Secretary of Labor and Employment, the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Social 
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Security System (555), and the Executive Director of the ECC shall promulgate the necessary 
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rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act. 
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A~ruV 
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FINAL PROVISIONS 
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SECTION 12. Separability Clause. -
If any provision of this Act is subsequently declared 
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invalid or unconstitutional, other provisions hereof which are not affected thereby shall remain 
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in full force and effect. 
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SECTION 13. Repealing Clause. -
Section 6 of Republic Act 9295 is hereby repealed. All 
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laws, acts, presidential decrees, executive orders, issuances, presidential proclamations, rules 
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and regulations or parts thereof which are contrary to and inconsistent with any provision of 
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this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly. 
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SECTION 14. Effectivity. -
This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete 
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publication either in the Ojjicial Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
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Approved, 
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