Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
Seventeenth Congress
Second Regular Session

House BiLL NoD96O

Introduced by Honorable Mark O. Go

EXPLANATORY NOTE

‘Senior citizens comprise nearly seven percent (7%) of the Philippine’s population with their number
Projected at 63 million. According to Dr. Romulo A. Virola, former Secretary General of the
National Statistics Coordination Board, the share of senior citizens to the country’s total

has been steadily increasing over time, from 6.0 percent in 2000 to 6.9 percent in 2011 to 13.8 percent
in 2040,

‘The senior citizens are still considered as one of the poorest sectors in the Philippine society. In fact,
data from the Philippine Statistics Authority shows that this group has a poverty incidence of 13.1%
in 2015.

As the population age, our senior citizens become more exposed to various risks and vulnerabilities.
Most of the seniors who are working under the informal sectors are not covered by pensions and
health care benefits. It remains a fact that this sector of society is having difficulties to keep up with
the relatively rapid economic growth where prices of medicines, health care, basic goods and
commodities, and house utilities are constantly increasing through time.

Itis therefore a declared policy of the State to 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. In the Declaration of Principles and State Policies in Article Il, Sections 10
and 11, it is further declared that the State shall provide social justice in all phases of national
development and that the State values the dignity of every human person and guarantees fll respect
for human rights.

This representation believes that increasing the senior citizen discount from five percent (5%) to ten
percent (10%) relative to the monthly utilization of water and clectricity supplied to households
registered under the name of a senior is indeed essential to reduce the burden of our elderlies.

In view of the foregoing. passage of this bill is eamestly sought.


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
‘Quezon City

Seventeenth Congress
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL no5960

Introduced by Honorable Mark O. Go

AN ACT INCREASING THE RATE OF DISCOUNT
GRANTED TO SENIOR CITIZENS ON THEIR MONTHLY ELECTRIC AND WATER
CONSUMPTION, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7432, AS
AMENDED BY REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9994, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE
"EXPANDED SENIOR CITIZENS ACT OF 2010"

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

Section 1. Section 4 (c) of Republic Act no. 9994 is hereby amended to read as follows:
“SEC 4. Privileges for the Senior Citizen, -
XXX XXX XXX

(c) The grant of a [minimum of five percent (5%)] TEN PERCENT (10%) discount relative to
the monthly utilization of water and electricity supplied by the public utilities: Provided, That the
individual meters for the foregoing utilities are registered in the name of the senior citizen
residing therein: Provided, further, That the monthly consumption does not exceed one hundred
kilowatt hours (100 kWh) of electricity and thirty cubic meters (30 m3) of water: Provided,
furthermore, That the privilege is granted per household regardless of the number of senior
citizens residing therein;

XXX XXX XXX”

SEC. 2. Separability Clause. —If any provision of this Act is declared invalid or unconstitutional,
other provisions hereof which are not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect.

SEC. 3. Repealing Clause. — All laws, orders, decrees, rules and regulations, and other parts
thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified
accordingly.

SEC. 4. Effectivity.— This Act shall ke effect fifteen (15) days afler its publication in
the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,