Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTA’
Quezon City, Metro Manila

TWENTIETH CONGRESS

House Bill No. 269 1

Introduced by Representative Timothy Joseph Cayton

“AN ACT PROVIDING FOR UNIVERSAL SOCIAL PENSION TO ALL SENIOR
CITIZENS, AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7432, AS AMENDED, AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines mandates the State to promote a
just and humane society, uphold the dignity of every human person, and guarantee
full respect for human rights. It also declares that the family has the duty to care for
its elderly members, but the State may also do so through just programs of social
security!,

As of 2020, there were more than 9.2 million senior citizens in the Philippines, a
number that continues to rise each year.2 Many of them are not covered by formal
pension schemes such as the Social Security System (SSS) or Government Service
Insurance System (GSIS). The absence of a guaranteed safety net puts many our
senior citizens at risk of poverty, food insecurity, and inability to afford medicines
and daily living expenses.

The social pension covered under Republic Act No. 9994 is limited to indigent senior
citizens. Hence, this bill secks to institutionalize a universal social pension for all
Filipino senior citizens, regardless of income level or status. Providing a monthly
pension of at least P1,500.00 to support the daily subsistence and medical needs of
senior citizens would promote dignity, equity, and empowerment among our elderly
population.

' Section 4, Article XV of the Philippine Constitution
2 Philippine Statistics Authority. 2020 Census of Population and Housing (2020 CPH): Age and Sex
Distribution in the Philippines. (2022).


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

Lone Dittrict, Nueva Vizcaya


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

House Bill No,_ 2691

Introduced by Representative Timothy Joseph Cayton

“AN ACT PROVIDING FOR UNIVERSAL SOCIAL PENSION TO ALL SENIOR
CITIZENS, AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7432, AS AMENDED, AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”

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

SECTION 1. Title. ~This Act shall be known and cited as the “The Universal
Social Pension for Senior Citizens Act.”

SEC. 2. - Section 2 of Republic Act No. 7432, as amended by Republic Act No.
9257, farther amended by Republic Act No. 9994, and as further amended by Republic
Act No. 11916, is hereby further amended to read as follows:

“Sec. 2. Definition of Terms. For the purposes of this Act, these terms are
defined as follows:
XXX

“@ SOCIAL PENSION REFERS TO THE MONTHLY STIPEND OR
MONETARY GRANT FROM THE GOVERNMENT TO SUPPORT
THE DAILY SUBSISTENCE AND OTHER MEDICAL NEEDS OF
SENIOR CITIZENS WHICH SHALL NOT BE LESS THAN ONE
THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED PESOS (PHP 1,500.00) PER
MONTH.”


SEC. 3. Section 5 of the same Act, as amended, is hereby further amended to
read as follows:

xxx
“(h) Additional Government Assistance

“(1) Social Pension

“[Indigent] ALL senior citizens shall be entitled to a monthly [stipend]
SOCIAL PENSION amounting to AT LEAST ONE THOUSAND five
hundred pesos (PHP 1,600.00) to augment their daily subsistence and other
medical needs.

THE AMOUNT OF SOCIAL PENSION SHALL BE REVIEWED, AND,
WHEN NECESSARY, ADJUSTED OR INCREASED BY THE DSWD
EVERY TWO YEARS AFTER THE EFFECTIVITY OF THIS ACT, IN
CONSULTATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF BUDGET AND
MANAGEMENT (DBM) AND OTHER RELEVANT STAKEHOLDERS,
TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE VARIOUS NEEDS OF SENIOR
CITIZENS, THE NATIONAL INFLATION RATE, AND OTHER
RELEVANT ECONOMIC INDICATORS, AS REPORTED AND
PUBLISHED BY THE PERTINENT GOVERNMENT AGENCIES OR
AUTHORITIES; PROVIDED, THAT THE SOCIAL PENSION SHALL NOT
BE LESS THAN THE AMOUNT INITIALLY SPECIFIED IN THIS ACT.

XXX

SEC. 4. Appropriations. — The mandatory social pension within a period not
exceeding two (2) years from the implementation of this Act shall be added to the
regular appropriation of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)
budget in the General Appropriations Act. Thereafter, the regular appropriation for
the monthly social pension for senior citizens shall be included in the budget of the
National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC).

SEC. 5. Implementing Rules and Guidelines. - The DSWD, in coordination
with the NCSC, shall issue the necessary rules and regulations for the effective
implementation of this Act within thirty (80) days from its effectivity.

SEC. 6. Separability Clause. -If any provision of this Act is declared
unconstitutional or invalid, the remaining provisions not affected thereby shall
remain in full force and effect.

SEC. 7. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance,
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation,


contrary to, or inconsistent with, the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed,
modified or amended accordingly.

SEC. 8, Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after the

completion of its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general
circulation.

Approved,