FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
.' 
151 
s. B. No. --=:::...:--'-
) 
) 
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Introduced by Senator Ralph G Recto 
Explanatory Note 
One of the most significant pieces of legislation passed by the 14th Congress last year 
was Republic Act No. 9994, or the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010, which provided 
additional benefits to our beloved senior citizens. This law was enacted in recognition of the 
rights of our senior citizens and in support of their total well-being and full participation in 
society. 
Among the benefits and privileges provided in this Act is the grant of a twenty-percent 
(20%) discount and exemption from the value -added tax (VAT), if applicable, on the sale of 
some goods and services. It also includes other benefits and privileges such as free vaccines for 
indigent senior citizens, death benefit assistance, educational assistance, free medical and dental 
services, mandatory PhiIHealth coverage, and exemption from training fees for socioeconomic 
programs, among others. 
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But one of the most important benefits of R.A. 9994 is the grant of a social pension for 
indigent senior citizens in the amount of PSOO per month, to be administered by the Department 
of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). 
However, the law did not provide for the immediate appropriation of this monthly 
pension. Instead, funds to cover the benefit will only be included in the DSWD budget of 
subsequent General Appropriations Acts, to begin on fiscal year 2011. 
Citing latest census data, DSWD estimated that it would cost some P7 billion annually to 
fund this provision of R.A. 9994 as there are more than a million indigent senior citizens entitled 
to the monthly pension, 
This bill aims to expedite the grant of this pension effective July 2010 by allocating P3.S 
billion to fund this provision of R.A. 9994 in the form of a separate appropriations law. 
Our senior citizens should not be made to wait for a full year to receive this benefit. It is 
high time that they enjoy additional benefits and privileges from the government and that they 
should enjoy it at the soonest possible time. 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
S.B. N~. 151 
Introduced by Senator Ralph G Recto 
AN ACT 
APPROPRIATING THE SUM OF THREE BILLION FIVE HUNDRED MILLION 
PESOS (P3,SOO,000,000.00) AS SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE 
FISCAL YEAR 2010 TO FINANCE THE MONTHLY SOCIAL PENSION FOR 
INDIGENT SENIOR CITIZENS, AS PROVIDED FOR BY REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9994, 
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "EXPANDED SENIOR CITIZENS ACT OF 2010" 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representative of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
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Section 1. Appropriations. The sum of Three Billion Five Hundred Million Pesos 
2 
(p3,500,000,000.00) is hereby appropriated to fund and support the monthly social pension for 
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indigent senior citizens for Fiscal Year 2010 as provided for in Section 1, Article 20 of Republic 
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Act No. 9994, otherwise known as the ""Expanded Senior Citizens Act of2010". 
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Section 2. Use of Funds. - The amounts herein appropriated shall be used for the 
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purposes indicated and subject to: (i) the relevant special and general provisions of Republic Act 
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No. 9970, or the FY 2010 General Appropriations Act and subsequent General Appropriations 
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Acts, and (ii) the applicable provisions of Republic Act No. 9994, entitled: "An Act Granting 
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Additional Benefits and Privileges to Senior Citizens, Further Amending Republic Act No. 7432, 
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As Amended, Otherwise Known as "An Act To Maximize the Contribution of Senior Citizens to 
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Nation Building, Grant Benefits and Special Privileges and for Other Purposes.: Provided, 
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however, That disbursement of the amounts herein appropriated or any part thereof shaH be 
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authorized only in strict compliance with the Constitution, and the provisions of Republic Act 
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No. 9994. 
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Section 3. Release of Funds. - The amounts herein appropriated shall be released to the 
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Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) by the Department of Budget and 
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Management in accordance with budgeting laws, rules and regulations. 
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Section 4. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen days (15) following its 
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pUblication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation or the Official Gazette. 
Approved,