Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Batasan Hills, Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. 3981 
Introduced by ​
HON. ATTY. GERVILLE “JINKY BITRICS” R. LUISTRO 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Article XV, Section IV provides: "The family has the duty to care for its elderly members but 
the State may also do so through just programs of social security." 
According to latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority, there were 12,336,355 Filipinos 
aged 60 years old and above as of May 2020. Based on the 
2020 Census of Population and Housing, our elderly comprises 11.31 percent of our total 
population. While there have been efforts from the State to provide for assistance through RA 
No. 9994 or the Expanded Senior Citizens Act, the said law only covers senior citizens who are 
indigents. 
Enacted laws should be encompassing, inclusive and equal to all our people. 
After more than a decade of the implementation of the said law, it is high time to remedy such 
and allow for a more beneficial and evenly balanced financial aid from the State, responding 
with the current needs of our aging citizens. This bill proposes to mandate the Department of 
Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the National Commission of Senior Citizens to 
qualify and give financial aid to all senior citizens regardless of their economic or financial 
circumstances. It likewise seeks to increase the monthly pension for our elderly from Five 
Hundred Pesos (Php 500.00) to One Thousand Pesos (Php 1,000.00) while allowing the DSWD 
to allocate the unclaimed funds to all active pensioner by the end of the fiscal year - an additional 
grant to the intended beneficiaries of the law. 
August 26, 2025
10:53 am


Our elderly are one of the most vulnerable sectors that has been hit hard by the pandemic. And 
with the rising cost of living currently being experienced by 
our people, such additional subsidies from our government can go a long way for our senior 
citizens. 
In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
HON. ATTY. GERVILLE “JINKY BITRICS” R. LUISTRO 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Batasan Hills, Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
Third Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. 3981 
Introduced by  
HON. ATTY. GERVILLE “JINKY BITRICS” R. LUISTRO 
AN ACT GRANTING UNIVERSAL SOCIAL PENSION TO SENIOR CITIZENS AND 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Universal Social Pension for 
Senior Citizens Act.” 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - The Constitution recognizes vital initiatives that foster 
social justice and order, promote social services, and preserve social welfare. Be it noted that 
Article II, Section IX provides: "The State shall 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 that provide adequate social services, promote full employment, a rising standard of 
living, and an improved quality of life for all." Furthermore, as expressed in Article II, Section 
X: "The State shall promote social justice in all phases of national development." In addition, 
Article II, Section XI emphasizes the value given by the State to the dignity of every human 
person and guarantees full respect for human rights. Furthermore, Article XIII, Section XI 
provides: "The State shall adopt an integrated and comprehensive approaci to health 
development which shall endeavor to make essential goods, health and other social services 
available to all the people at affordable cost. There shall be priority for the needs of the 
underprivileged sick, elderly, disabled, women, and children." More importantly, Article XV, 
Section IV provides: "The family has the duty to care for its elderly members but the State may 
also do so through just programs of social security." ​


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Consistent with the aforementioned Constitutional provisions and principles, the policies stated 
hereunder shall form part of the declared policies of this Act: ​
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a) To extend support to our senior citizens by providing monetary resources of the 
government to aid them towards a sustainable and decent living; ​
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b) To strengthen our shared duty in the promotion of basic Filipino values especially the 
rearing of the elderly people; and ​
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c) To further cultivate filial piety as a basic component of kinship and camaraderie 
between and amongst our people. ​
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In consonance with the foregoing policies, this Act aims to: ​
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a) Formulate programs and systems that will ensure propriety and uniformity in its 
implementation, through a comprehensive and inclusive approach to senior citizens;  
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b) Configure existing processes and procedures that will help provide orderly conduct of 
activities between and among senior citizens and their availment thereof; 
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c) Establish norms and customs that will contribute to the development of a just and 
humane society that recognizes and gives value to the contributions and sacrifices of our senior 
citizens in and for our communities; and ​
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d) Reduce the number of financially-challenged senior citizens suffering from lack of or 
unwanted retirement plans.​
 
SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. For the purposes of this Act, the following terms shall be 
defined as follows: ​
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a) "Senior citizen" refers to an individual aged 60 years old and above; ​
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b) "Qualified senior citizen" refers to an individual, aged 60 years old and above, who is 
eligible to receive the Universal Social Pension (USP), as provided for in this Act; and ​
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c) "Universal Social Pension (USP)" refers to monthly stipends amounting to PHP 
1,000.00 which are granted to qualified senior citizens, as determined and regulated by the 
provisions of this Act. ​
 
SEC. 4.  Qualifications. - Within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this Act, the 
DSWD, in coordination with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), 
NEDA, PSA, and other relevant agencies, shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations 
for the effective implementation of this Act. 
 


SEC. 5. Universal Social Pension. - Any qualified senior citizen, as further determined 
by the National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC), shalll be entitled to receive the 
Universal Social Pension (USP). The USP, in the form of a monetary grant, shall be given to 
qualified beneficiaries on a monthly basis, in the amount of PHP1,000.00, and regulated by the 
provisions of this Act. 
 
SEC. 6. Implementation and Management Plan - The Department of Social Welfare and 
Development (DSWD), together with the National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC), in 
partnership with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), shall jointly 
formulate and devise application, evaluation, distribution, monitoring procedures, and other 
implementing rules and regulations of the program for the systematized administration thereof. 
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) shall be designated as the 
implementing institution that will promulgate rules to ensure compliance and congruence with 
the purposes of and provisions provided for in this Act. 
 
SEC. 7. Waiver of Pension - Senior citizens may voluntarily file a waiver through the 
NCSC. Unclaimed pension fund shall be preserved by the DSWD for the purpose of the 
succeeding section of this Act. 
 
 
SEC. 8.  Undisbursed Fund. - Undisbursed fund shall be divided proportionally among 
the active beneficiaries in the last quarter of the year and shall not be reverted to the National 
Treasury. 
 
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SEC. 9.  Funding.  - The initial required fund of the program shall be determined by the 
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), in consultation with the National 
Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC), sourced out from the available funds of the Department 
of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). Funds, thereafter, necessary for further 
implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act (GAA), 
subject to the accounting and auditing procedures of the government. 
 
 
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SEC. 10.  Repealing Clause  - All laws, presidential decrees or issuances, executive 
orders, proclamations, administrative orders, rules and regulations, or any part thereof, which are 
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, modified or amended 
accordingly. 
 
SEC. 11.  Separability Clause  - If any provision or part of this Act is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act shall remain valid and subsisting. 
 
 
SEC. 12. Effectivity Clause - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its official 
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.​


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Approved,