TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) First Regular Session JUL -8 25:44 SENATE RECEN S. No. _ Introduced by Senator Paolo Benigno "Bam" A. Aquino IV AN ACT INCREASING THE MONTHLY SOCIAL PENSION OF SENIOR CITIZENS AND EXPANDING THE COVERAGE THEREOF, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTIONS 2 AND 5 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7432, AS AMENDED BY REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9257, FURTHER AMENDED BY REPUBLIC ACT NO 9994, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "EXPANDED SENIOR CITIZENS ACT OF 2010" EXPLANATORY NOTE As we grow older, it becomes more difficult to generate income. Many of our lolos and lolas face barriers to staying employed after the age of 60 due to physical limitations, age-based discrimination, or the lack of opportunities tailored to their skills. This leaves many senior citizens without a reliable source of income, even as their needs begin to increase. Pensions provide a source of income that is both regular and predictable-two things that are crucial for older adults who need to plan for everyday expenses, medical needs, and emergencies. Unlike irregular or informal sources of support, a pension allows recipients to manage their resources with more certainty. This reduces stress, promotes better well-being, and allows older people to make personal choices about how their money is spent. Beyond this, social pension is more than just an individual benefit. For many households, it is a vital contribution to the family as a whole. In multigenerational homes, older family members often help care for grandchildren, manage the household, or provide emotional support. A modest pension can help cover food, medicine, utility bills, or transportation costs, easing the financial pressure on younger relatives who may already be juggling their own expenses. Without a sufficient or reliable pension, many senior citizens are left with few options but to depend heavily on their families, who may already be struggling. Providing a social pension is one way to help older people meet their daily needs more independently, while also offering relief to families working hard to make ends meet.
The proposed measure thus seeks to mandate the government to provide social pension of P1,000 to all senior citizens who do not have social pension or receive some pension not greater than P3,000. Our senior citizens have broadly contributed to the development of our nation. It is time for us to return their sacrifices by ensuring that they are cared for in their old age. In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought. Bam Aquins
TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) First Regular Session ) P5:44 JUL -8 SENATE S. No. _ Introduced by Senator Paolo Benigno "Bam" A. Aquino IV AN ACT INCREASING THE MONTHLY SOCIAL PENSION OF SENIOR CITIZENS AND EXPANDING THE COVERAGE THEREOF, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTIONS 2 AND 5 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7432, AS AMENDED BY REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9257, FURTHER AMENDED BY REPUBLIC ACT NO 9994, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "EXPANDED SENIOR CITIZENS ACT OF 2010" Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 2 Congress assembled:
Section 1. Section 2 of Republic Act No. 7432, as amended by Republic Act No.
9257, further amended by Republic Act No. 9994, otherwise known as the "Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2020", is hereby further amended to read as follows: "Sec. 2. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, these terms are defined 7 as follows: XXX XXX XXX ["(h) Indigent senior citizen refers to any elderly who is frail, sickly, or with 8 10 disability, and without pension or permanent source of income, compensation of financial assistance from his/her relatives to support his/her basic needs, as 12 determined by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in consultation with the National Coordinating and Monitoring Board.")
Sec. 2. Section 5 of the same Act, as amended, is hereby further amended to
15 read as follows:
"Sec. 5. Government Assistance. - The government shall provide the following: XXX XXX XXX "(h) Additional Government Assistance "(1) Social Pension "[Indigent) ALL senior citizens WHO ARE NOT RECEIVING PENSION OR WHO ARE RECEIVING PENSION IN THE AMOUNT OF THREE THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED PESOS (Php3,500.00) AND BELOW FROM THE 8 GOVERNMENT SERVICE INSURANCE SYSTEM (GSIS), SOCIAL SECURITY 9 SYSTEM (SSS), AND PENSION AND GRATUITY MANAGEMENT CENTER 10 (PGMC), shall be entitled to a monthly stipend OF AT LEAST [amounting to Five 11 hundred pesos (Php500.00)] ONE THOUSAND PESOS (P1,000.00) to augment the 12 daily subsistence and other medical needs of senior citizens, WHICH AMOUNT SHALL BE [subject to a review] REVIEWED every two (2) years by Congress, in consultation with the DSWD OR ANY AGENCY THAT SHALL BE SO DESIGNATED BY AN ACT OF CONGRESS, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE NATIONAL 16 INFLATION RATE AND OTHER RELEVANT ECONOMIC INDICATORS. 17 SENIOR CITIZENS WHO DO NOT NEED GOVERNMENT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO AUGMENT THEIR DAILY SUBSISTENCE AND MEDICAL NEEDS MAY OPT NOT TO CLAIM THE MONTHLY STIPEND. UNCLAIMED SOCIAL PENSION FUNDS SHALL REVERT BACK TO THE NATIONAL TREASURY AND FORM PART OF THE GOVERNMENT'S GENERAL FUND. XXX XXX XXX
Sec 3. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared invalid or
unconstitutional, the remaining provisions not affected shall continue to be in full force and effect.
Sec 4. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders or rules and
regulations contrary to or inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
Sec 5. Effectively Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days from its
2 publication in the Official Gazette. Approved,