REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES TREE DE THE PIPENE First Regular Session JUL -3 P4:59 SENATE RIC S. No._ Introduced by Senator MARK A. VILLAR AN ACT GRANTING UNIVERSAL SOCIAL PENSION TO SENIOR CITIZENS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE THE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7432, AS AMENDED, OR THE "ACT TO MAXIMIZE THE CONTRIBUTION OF SENIOR CITIZENS TO NATION BUILDING, GRANT BENEFITS AND SPECIAL PRIVILEGES AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES" EXPLANATORY NOTE Article XV, Section 4 of the Constitution, provides that it is the duty of the family to take care of its elderly members, while the State may design programs of social security for them. While Article XIII, Section 11 mandates that the State should prioritize the needs of the elderly, among others. The above is especially relevant as the Philippines is facing a rapid demographic change as it may have an aging population by 20304. By 2050, Filipinos aged 60 and above will increase to 23.7 million from 9.3 million in 20202. Additionally, according to the 2022 social pension review of the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS), 36.9% of Filipino seniors still do not have a pension?. These numbers reflect a growing concern for the State to facilitate a society where the elderly will be taken care of. In 2021, half of our senior citizens reported that they are still working to make ends meet*. Considering that the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) rolled out its social pension for indigent senior citizens in 2011, there remains 1 https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2024/01/09/2324420/philippines-may-have-aging-population-2030-cpd 2 https://www.eria.org/uploads/8_Ch_1-Shifting_Demographic.pdf 3 https://pids.gov.ph/publication/research-paper-series/socpen-beyond-ten-a-process-evaluation-of-dswd-s-socpen-program-amid-the-covid-19-panderic 4 https://www.abs-cbn.com/spotlight/10/07/22/nearly-half-of-filipino-seniors-still-work-popcom
a reality where Filipino elderly are still working or financially incapable of daily sustenance. This measure seeks to provide protection and support for elderly Filipinos through a standardized distribution of social pension to all senior citizens regardless of their social status. Through this bill, indigent senior citizens are entitled to a monthly stipend of One thousand pesos (Php 1,000.00). Senior citizens who are not considered as indigents shall be entitled to a monthly stipend of Five hundred pesos (Php 500.00), which shall be increased to One thousand pesos(P1,000.00) after five years. In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 2 MARIA VILLAR
TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) First Regular SeSHIPPINESS First Regular Session 25 JUL -3 P4:59 SENATE S. No. _ RE:. Introduced by Senator MARK A. VILLAR AN ACT GRANTING UNIVERSAL SOCIAL PENSION TO SENIOR CITIZENS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7432, AS AMENDED OR THE "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 Ewhich shall not be less than One thousand pesos (P1,000.00) per monthl".
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 fof 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 Department of Budget and Management (DBM), in consultation 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 indicator &, 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. "X × X."
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
2 the effectivity of this Act, the Chairperson of the National Commission of Senior 3 Citizens shall formulate and adopt amendments to the existing rules and regulations 4 implementing Republic Act No. 11916 to carry out the objectives of this Act, in 5 consultation with other relevant agencies and stakeholders.
Sec. 5. Separability Clause. - If any portion or provision of this Act were to be
7 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
10 Nos. 9257 and 9994, otherwise known as the "Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 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,