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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
19TH CONGRESS 
Third Regular Session 
House Bill No. 10616 
Introduced by: REP.  JOEL R. CHUA 
Explanatory Note 
More than a decade ago, the Congress triumphantly passed Republic Act No. 
9994 or the Expanded Senior Citizen Act of 2010 which granted social pension to 
indigent senior citizens. In 2022, the Congress increased the amount received through 
the social pension from Five Hundred Pesos to One Thousand Pesos. However, this 
benefit remains to be limited to indigent senior citizens.   
This restriction burdens many of our senior citizens who, despite not having 
any source of income, are not considered indigents because of other financial 
assistance they may receive1. In reality, this financial assistance is limited and 
inconsistent.  
The rising prices of basic commodities and services is a burden to every Filipino 
family. In January 2023, the Philippine inflation rate was recorded at 8.7%, the highest 
since 20082.  
1 Section 2(h) of Republic Act No. 9994, as amended, defines Indigent senior citizen as “any elderly who is frail, 
sickly or with disability, and without pension or permanent source of income, compensation or financial 
assistance from his/her relatives to support his/her basic needs, as determined by the Department of Social 
Welfare and development (DSWD) in consultation with the National Coordinating and Monitoring Board." 
2 Rita, J. (2023, February 7). Inflation climbs to 8.7% in Jan. 2023, highest since Nov. 2008 —PSA . Retrieved 
from GMA News Online: https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/money/economy/859911/inflation-climbs-to-8-
7-in-jan-2023-highest-since-nov-2008-psa/story/
July 17, 2024
2:22 pm


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The Constitution mandates 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 which provide adequate social services, a rising 
standard of living, and an improved quality of life for all.  
Senior citizens comprise 8.5 percent or around 9.2 million of our total 
population. Amidst changing times, they become exposed to more and more 
vulnerabilities.  
In crafting this Bill, this representation considered the challenges and realities 
of our modern times. Thus, this Bill offers measures of inclusivity to ensure that our 
senior citizens not only adapt but thrive. First, it expands the grant of social pension 
to include all senior citizens. Second, it embraces the effective local government 
practice of granting free movie access to the elderly. Lastly, it grants discount to the 
purchase of mobile phones by senior citizens.   
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
REP. JOEL R. CHUA 
3rd District of Manila 


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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
19TH CONGRESS 
Third Regular Session 
House Bill No. 10616 
Introduced by: REP.  JOEL R. CHUA 
AN ACT 
EXPANDING THE COVERAGE OF THE SENIOR CITIZEN SOCIAL PENSION 
TO 
INCLUDE 
NON-INDIGENTS, 
AND 
GRANTING 
ADDITIONAL 
PRIVILEGES, THEREBY FURTHER AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7432, AS 
AMENDED, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:  
SECTION 1. Section 4 of Republic Act No. 7432, as amended, is hereby further 
amended to read as follows: 
“Section 4. Privileges for the Senior Citizens. – 
The senior citizens shall be entitled to the following: 
(a) the grant of twenty percent (20%) discount and exemption from the value
-added tax (VAT), if applicable, on the sale of the following goods and
services from all establishments, for the exclusive use and enjoyment or
availment of the senior citizen
x x x 
(10) on the purchase of cellular/mobile phones provided, that it
shall be limited to a single purchase per store;
x x x 
(l) death benefit assistance of a minimum of Five thousand pesos
(Php5,000.00) shall be given to the nearest surviving relative of a deceased
senior citizen which amount shall be subject to adjustments due to inflation
in accordance with the guidelines to be issued by the DSWD.


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(m) privilege of free movie-access or pass to any film of their choice in any 
house or theater or cinema throughout the Philippines, which may be 
availed of only on Mondays or Thursdays.  
 
x x x” 
 
SECTION 2. Section 5 of the same Act, as amended, is hereby further amended to 
read as follows: 
 
“Section 5. Government Assistance. – The government shall provide the 
following: 
 
 x x x  
 
(h) Additional Government Assistance  
 
(1) Mandatory Social Pension 
ALL [Indigent] senior citizens shall be entitled to a monthly stipend 
amounting to not less than One Thousand Pesos (P1,000.00) to augment the 
daily subsistence and other medical needs of senior citizens. 
The DSWD shall, subject to the approval of the Department of Budget and 
Management (DBM), in consultation with other stakeholders, review and, 
when necessary, adjust the amount of the social pension every two (2) years 
after the effectivity of this Act, taking into account the present consumer 
price index as published by the PSA and relevant economic indicators, as 
reported and published by pertinent government agencies and authorities.  
(2) Mandatory PhilHealth Coverage 
ALL [indigent] SENIOR CITIZENS shall be covered by the national health 
insurance program of PhilHealth. The LGUs where the indigent senior 
citizens resides shall allocate the necessary funds to ensure the enrollment of 
their indigent senior citizens in accordance with the pertinent laws and 
regulations. 
(3) x x x “ 
 
SECTION 3. Amendment of IRR. – Within thirty (30) days from the effectivity of this 
Act, the NCSC shall, in consultation with the DSWD, DBM, local government units, 
and other concerned government agencies, as well as nongovernment organizations 
and people's organizations duly accredited by the DSWD, promulgate the necessary 
rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act. 
 


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SECTION 4. Separability Clause. – If any provision of this Act is declared invalid or 
unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected thereby shall continue to be in full 
force and effect.  
 
SECTION 5. Repealing Clause. – All laws, decrees, executive orders or rules and 
regulations contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby 
repealed or modified accordingly.  
 
SECTION 6. 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,