FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
FIRST REGULAR SESSION 
I 
Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill seeks to provide representation of senior citizens in local legislative and 
special bodies. 
Senior citizens have a vital role in nation building. They have amassed valuable 
experiences as past or current leaders and prime movers in the nation’s political, social 
and economic affairs. Based on 2000 Census, there are around 4.6 million senior citizens 
which accounts for 6 % of total population. There is a senior citizen in one out of every 
five households in the country. Around 80 % of all senior citizens are literate, 57.41 % 
are household heads and 57.07 % are gainfully and economically productive. These 
indicate that more than half of senior citizens have the capacity and the energy to 
participate in productive affairs in society. 
The State recognizes that senior citizens have their special needs that should be 
addressed through the provision of public services. This is evident with the passage of 
Republic Act No. 7432 titled “An Act to Maximize the Contribution of Senior Citizens to 
Nation Building, Grant Benefits and Special Privileges and for Other Purposes” and 
other such laws. However, senior citizens have yet to be fully tapped to represent their 
own concerns and interests in public policymaking bodies. Local policymaking bodies 
are the most viable venue for involving active participation of senior citizens since they 
tend to be less mobile as evidenced by the 2000 census which showed that 95 % of 
senior citizens have remained in the same city/municipality where they lived five years 
prior to the census. 
This bill seeks to promote the active participation of senior citizens in local 
governance and encourage them to advance their concerns through direct 
representation in local decision-making bodies. 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
__ /--’ 
/ 
LOREN LEGARDA 
Senator 


FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
FIRST REGULAR SESSION 
) 
SENATE 
S.B.No. 139 
Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda 
AN ACT 
MANDATING THE REPRESENTATION OF THE ELDERLY IN EVERY 
SANGGUNIAN AND LOCAL SPECIAL BODIES IN ALL LOCAL GOVERNMENT 
UNITS 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Repvesentatives ofthe Philippines in Congress 
assem bled: 
SECTION 
1. Declaration of Policy. - The state recognizes the wisdom and 
values of senior citizens derived from the wealth of their experiences as past leaders 
and prime movers of government, corporate and civic affairs of the nation. In view of 
this, the state shall endeavor to promote the active participation and contribution of 
senior citizens in political and governance processes. 
SECTION 
2. Objective. - Pursuant to the foregoing policy, the State shall 
ensure the representation of senior citizens in: (a) all Sanggunians in all barangays, 
municipalities, cities and provinces; and (b) all local special bodies including, but not 
limited to, those provided for under Republic Act No. 7160, also known as the ”Local 
Government Code of 1991”. 
SECTION 
3. Representation in Sanggunians. - All Sangguniang Barangay, 
Sangguniang Bayan, Sangguniang Panlungsod and Sangguniang PanlalazcJigan shall reserve 
a seat for a senior citizens’ representative who shall enjoy all the privileges and 
emoluments enjoyed by regular members of the Sangguniang. 
SECTION 
4. Manner of 
Election. -The senior citizens shall organize 
themselves and elect from among them a chairperson who will represent them in the 
Sangguniang Barangay. The chairpersons of the senior citizens‘ organizations in the 
barangays will elect from among them their representative to the Sangguniang 
Bayan/Sangguniang Panlungsod. The senior citizens’ representatives of all municipalities 
and cities under the jurisdiction of the provincial government shall elect from among 
them a representative to the Sarrgguniang Panlungsod. 
SECTION 
4. Representation in Local Special Bodies. - The senior citizens‘ 
representatives in the sangguniang of all barangays, municipalities, cities and provinces 
shall sit as members of in all local special bodies in their respective local government 
units. 
SECTION 
5. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Department of 
Interior and Local Government, in coordination with the Commission on Elections 


(COMELEC), shall be responsible for formulating the Implementing Rules and 
Regulations necessary to effectively carryout the objectives and provisions provided 
under this Act. 
SECTION 
6. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and 
regulations or portions thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby 
repealed, amended or modified accordingly. 
SECTION 
7. Sepavability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared 
invalid, other parts or provisions thereof not affected thereby shall remain and continue 
to be in full force and effect. 
SECTION 
8. Effectivify. - This Act shall take effect of the day following its 
publication in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved.