Universal Social Pension to Senior Citizens

Tate shot TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session JUL -3 P3:54 SENATE S. No. _ Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada AN ACT GRANTING UNIVERSAL SOCIAL PENSION TO SENIOR CITIZENS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7432, AS AMENDED, ENTITLED "AN ACT TO MAXIMIZE THE CONTRIBUTION OF SENIOR CITIZENS TO NATION BUILDING, GRANT BENEFITS AND SPECIAL PRIVILEGES AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES" EXPLANATORY NOTE Article II, Section 9 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution declares that "[t]he 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." Article XV, Section 4 provides that "[t]he family has the duty to care for its elderly members but the State may also do so through just programs of social security." The Philippines is moving toward an aging population. By 2030, Filipinos 60 years old and over would have reached 13.2 million' or 11 percent of the population. https://psa.gov.ph/sites/default/files/dhsd/Statistical%20Tables%20CBPP_0.pdf

Not all senior citizens are as lucky as those who receive pension or have economic subsistence to support their daily needs. In fact, many of them are forced to find employment in order to supply their own and their family's needs. In 2011, the Social Welfare department began the social pension for indigent senior citizens program? by giving cash assistance to 138,960 indigent senior citizens who are 77 years and older. In 2015, the age requirement was lowered to 65 years old, and in 2016, lowered further to 60 years old as mandated by Republic Act No. 9994 or the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010. This measure seeks to standardize the distribution of social pension to all senior citizens regardless of their social status. Under this bill, indigent senior citizens are entitled to a monthly stipend of One thousand pesos (P1,000.00). Senior citizens who are not considered as indigents shall be entitled to a monthly stipend of Five hundred pesos (P500.00), which shall be increased to One thousand pesos (P1,000.00) after five years. This is a form of social protection and economic empowerment measure that will help our beloved senior citizens have sort some of financial freedom amid the soaring prices of basic commodities and their medicine needs. The universal social pension, especially for underprivileged senior citizens, will also greatly improve their quality of health, increase their feeling of social inclusion, and help them find dignity in themselves despite their age or economic status. This legislation is crucial to ensure that the country adequately supports an aging demography. Hence, approval of the proposed Universal Social Pension Act is earnestly sought. front 1 JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 2 https://pidswebs.pids.gov.ph/CDN/PUBLICATIONS/pidspn2202.pdf

TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session JUL -3 P3:54 SENATE S. No. _ Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada AN ACT GRANTING UNIVERSAL SOCIAL PENSION TO SENIOR CITIZENS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7432, AS AMENDED, ENTITLED "AN ACT TO MAXIMIZE THE CONTRIBUTION OF SENIOR CITIZENS TO NATION BUILDING, GRANT BENEFITS AND SPECIAL PRIVILEGES AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES" 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, is hereby further

amended to read as follows: "Sec. 2. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, these terms are defined as follows: "(a) xXX "xxx "(i) Pension Provider refers to any government office or agency, or any private entity which provides pensions to 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), AMONG OTHERS; and "(j) UNIVERSAL Social Pension refers to [the] A NON- CONTRIBUTORY MONTHLY monetary grant from the

government to support the daily subsistence and medical needs of senior citizens [which shall not be less than One thousand pesos (P1,000.00) per month]".

Sec. 2. Section 5(h)(1) 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) xxx "XXX "(h) Additional Government Assistance "(1) [Mandatory] UNIVERSAL Social Pension "(A) Indigent senior citizens shall be entitled to a monthly stipend amounting to [not less than] AT LEAST One thousand pesos (P1,000.00) to augment the daily subsistence and other medical needs [of senior citizens]. "(B) SENIOR CITIZENS WHO ARE PREVIOUSLY NOT CONSIDERED AS INDIGENTS SHALL BE ENTITLED TO A MONTHLY STIPEND AMOUNTING TO AT LEAST FIVE HUNDRED PESOS (P500.00) UPON THE EFFECTIVITY OF THIS ACT: PROVIDED, THAT WITHIN FIVE (5) YEARS ALL SENIOR CITIZENS SHALL BE ENTITLED TO A UNIVERSAL SOCIAL PENSION EQUIVALENT TO A MONTHLY STIPEND OF AT LEAST ONE THOUSAND PESOS (P1,000.00) REGARDLESS OF ANY OTHER PENSION BENEFITS THEY MAY RECEIVE FROM OTHER PENSION PROVIDERS: PROVIDED, FURTHER, THAT ANY SENIOR CITIZEN MAY WAIVE THIS UNIVERSAL SOCIAL PENSION. "[The DSWD shall, subject to the approval of the in Department of Budget and Management (DBM), consuitation 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.] "THE DSWD SHALL, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF BUDGET AND MANAGEMENT (DBM), AS WELL AS OTHER STAKEHOLDERS, REVIEW AND IF NECESSARY, ADJUST THE AMOUNT OF UNIVERSAL SOCIAL PENSION EVERY TWO (2) YEARS AFTER THE FULL IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS ACT, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE VARIOUS NEEDS OF SENIOR CITIZENS AND RELEVANT ECONOMIC INDICATORS, AS REPORTED AND PUBLISHED BY PERTINENT GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND AUTHORITIES: PROVIDED, THAT THE SOCIAL PENSION SHALL NOT BE LESS THAN THE AMOUNT INITIALLY SPECIFIED IN THIS ACT. 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. "XXX."

Sec. 3. Appropriations. - The universal social pension for senior citizens shall

be added to the regular appropriations of the DSWD in the general appropriations act, and thereafter, to the National Commission of Senior Citizens, upon full transfer of the implementation, distribution, and management of the social pension.

Sec. 4. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90) days from

the effectivity of this Act, the Chairperson of the National Commission of Senior

1 Citizens shall formulate and adopt amendments to the existing rules and regulations 2 implementing Republic Act No. 11916 to carry out the objectives of this Act, in consultation with other relevant agencies and stakeholders.

Sec. 5. Separability Clause. - If any portion or provision of this Act were to be

declared unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any provision not affected thereby shall remain in force and effect.

Sec. 6. Repealing Clause. - Republic Act No. 7432, as amended by Republic

Act Nos. 9257 and 9994, otherwise known as the "Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 9 2010" and Republic Act No. 11916 are hereby amended. All other laws, ordinances, orders, rules, regulations and other issuances or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

Sec. 7. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

publication in the Official Gazette or in any newspaper of general circulation. Approved,