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

Hous

TWENTIETH CONGRESS * Tie 5210 PH
1 Regular Session BY _“Tuee
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House Bill No. 1516_ Sy
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Introduced by Representatives ERIC GO YAP and EDVIC G, YAP

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Section 4, Article XIV of the 1987 Constitution provides that not only the
family has the duty to care for its elderly members but also the state through just
programs of social security.

‘At present, the Philippines is experiencing an increase in the aging
population. However, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)
reiterates that nearly 1.3 million older people are living in poverty at present. What is
alarming is that the latest World Social Protection Report from 2017-2019 shows that
only 39.8% of people older than the statutory pensionable age in the Philippines
receive an old-age pension, may it be contributory, noncontributory or both."

This proposed measure aims to alleviate poverty among our senior citizens
through consistent and favorable social pension. It recognizes the invaluable
contribution of our elderly in the roles they played in nation building and societal
development throughout history.

Hence, this bill seeks to amend Republic Act No. 7432 or “An Act to
Maximize the Contribution of Senior Citizens to Nation Building, Grant Benefits and
Special Privileges and for Other Purposes”. The said amendment is geared towards
increasing the monthly stipend of indigent senior citizens from five hundred
(P500.00) to one thousand and five hundred (P1,500.00).

Hence, in view of the foregoing, the approval of

HON. ERIC GO YAP HON. KDVIC G. YAP

"yelp Age Global Network. “Ageing Population inthe Philippines” Retrieved from: hits. /ageingasia ors /ageing-aonultion-ohinniness
(June 13,2022) 1

RECEIVED

pate 07 Jul 2005


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

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
1* Regular Session

House Bill No._31516

Introduced by Representatives ERIC GO YAP and EDVIC G. YAP

AN ACT
INCREASING THE MONTHLY SOCIAL PENSION OF SENIOR CITIZENS AND
EXPANDING THE COVERAGE THEREOF, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7432 ENTITLED, ‘AN ACT TO MAXIMIZE THE
CONTRIBUTION OF THE SENIOR CITIZENS TO NATION BUILDING,
GRANT BENEFITS AND SPECIAL PRIVILEGES AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES,’ AS AMENDED

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

SECTION 1. Section 2 of Republic Act No. 7432, as amended by Republic Act
Nos. 9257 and 9994, otherwise known as the “Expanded Senior Citizens Act of
2010”, 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:

a) xxx,
Xxx;
(h) xxx;

“() PENSION PROVIDER REFERS TO ANY GOVERNMENT
OFFICE OR AGENCY, OR ANY PRIVATE ENTITY WHICH
PROVIDES PENSIONS ENTITLED RECIPIENTS ON THE BASIS
OF CONTRIBUTIONS, GRATUITY, OR AS MANDATED BY ANY
GOVERNING LAW OR ISSUANCE, INCLUDING THE SOCIAL
SECURITY SYSTEM (SSS), THE GOVERNMENT SERVICE
INSURANCE SYSTEM (GSIS), AND THE PENSION AND
GRATUITY MANAGEMENT CENTER (PGMC).

“Q) SOCIAL PENSION REFERS TO THE MONETARY GRANT
FROM THE GOVERNMENT TO AUGMENT THE DAILY
SUBSISTENCE AND OTHER MEDICAL NEEDS OF SENIOR


CITIZENS WHICH SHALL NOT BE LESS THAN ONE THOUSAND
FIVE HUNDRED PESOS (P1,500.00) PER MONTH.”

SEC 2. Section 5 of Republic Act No. 7432, as amended, is hereby
further amended to read as follows:

“Sec 5. Government Assistance. - The government shall provide the
following:

“(a) Employment

XXX.

“Private entities that will employ senior citizens as employees, upon the
effectivity of this Act, shall be entitled to an additional deduction from
their gross income, equivalent to fifteen percent (15%) of the total
amount paid as salaries and wages to senior citizens, subject to the
provision of Section 34 of the NIRC, as amended: Provided, however,
That such employment shall continue for a period of at least six (6)
months: Provided, further, That the annual income of the senior citizen
does not exceed the latest poverty threshold as [determined]
PUBLISHED by the [National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) of
the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA)] PHILIPPINE
STATISTICS AUTHORITY (PSA) for that year.

XxX
“(h) Additional Government Assistance
“() MANDATORY Social Pension

“Indigent senior citizens shall be entitled to a monthly stipend
amounting to [five hundred pesos (P500.00)] NO LESS THAN ONE
THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED PESOS (1,500.00) to augment the
daily subsistence and medical needs of senior citizens [subject to review
every two (2) years by Congress, in consultation with DSWD].

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 SOCIAL
PENSION EVERY TWO (2) YEARS AFTER THE EFFECTIVITY OF
THIS ACT, TAKING 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.


THE IMPLEMENTATION, DISTRIBUTION, AND MANAGEMENT
OF THE SOCIAL PENSION SHALL BE TRANSFERRED FROM THE
DSWD TO THE NATIONAL COMMISSION OF SENIOR CITIZENS
(NCSC) WITHIN A PERIOD NOT EXCEEDING THREE (3) YEARS
FROM THE EFFECTIVITY OF THIS ACT.

“Q)xxx
(3) Social Safety Nets

“Social safety assistance intended to cushion the effects of economic
shocks, disasters, and calamities shall be available for senior citizens.
The social safety assistance which shall include [, but not limited to]
food, medicines, and financial assistance for domicile repair, shall be
sourced from the disaster/calamity funds of LGUs where the senior
citizens reside, subject to the guidelines to be issued by the [DSWD],
NCSC.

SEC. 3. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90) days from
the approval of this Act, the NCSC shall, in consultation with the DSWD, DBM and
other concerned government agencies, as well as nongovernmental organizations
and people's organizations of senior citizens duly accredited by the DSWD,
promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of
this Act.

SEC. 4. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the initial
implementation of this Act shall be charged against the current appropriations of the
DSWD. Thereafter, such amount necessary for its continued implementation of this
Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 5. Separability Clause. - If any portion or provision of this Act is
declared unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any provision not affected
thereby shall remain in force and effect.

SEC, 6. Repealing Clause. - All laws, executive orders, presidential decrees,
presidential proclamations, letters of implementation, rules and regulations or parts
thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified
accordingly.

SEC. 6. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,