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House Bill No.

Introduced by Honorable Robert Ace

Barbers

AN ACT GRANTING BENEFITS AND PRIVILEGES TO JUNIOR CITIZENS
EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to develop a comprehensive program of benefits and privileges for
children aged Zero (0) to Twelve (12) or Junior Citizens in the Philippines.

Our children are our nation’s most valuable asset. They represent the bright future of
our country and hold our hopes for a better nation. Every effort should be exerted by the State
to promote their welfare and enhance their opportunities to a useful and happy life. While the
government has sworn to protect, fulfill and respect our children’s fundamental rights, many
Filipino children still have limited access to basic services and are left behind, compared to
other countries, in terms of obtaining their economic, social and health rights.

As provided in the 1987 Constitution, the State values the dignity of every human
person and guarantees full respect for human rights. It is unfortunate, however, that
legislations and policies underscore minimal consideration on the basic and fundamental
needs of children aged zero (0) to twelve (12), or Junior Citizens, as referred to in this bill
Undeniably, some families with meager income can barely cope with the daily standard of
living.

This bill aims to alleviate every parent's financial woes-by providing their children or
Junior Citizens with benefits and privileges that they can enjgf. It is\hoped that this proposed
measure will effectively address the concerns of our underprivilegefi junior citizens who play
an important role in nation-building. If our government can/give thege privileges to our senior
citizens, there is no reason why we cannot also grant these benefits to our underprivileged
Junior Citizens.

In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is darnestlygought.

HON. ACE S. BARBERS.
sentative

2°¢ Dis\ict, Surigao del Norte


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

2ee3

House Bill No.

Introduced by Honorable Robert Ace S. Barbers

AN ACT GRANTING BENEFITS AND PRIVILEGES TO JUNIOR CITIZENS

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act Shall be known as the "Junior Citizens Act.”

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policies and Objectives. - As provided in the Constitution of the Republic
of the Philippines, it is the 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
{ising standard of living and an improved quality of life. In the Declaration of Principles and
State Policies in Article Il, Sections 10 and 11, itis 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 full respect for human rights

The Child is one of the most important assets of the nation. Every effort should be exerted to
promote his welfare and enhance his opportunities for a useful and happy life.

All children shall be entitled to the rights herein set forth without distinction as to legitimacy or
illegitimacy, sex, religion, political antecedents, and other factors.

SEC. 3. Definition of terms. - For Purposes of this Act, these terms are defined as
follows:

(a) Junior citizen refers to any resident citizen of the Philippines aged zero (0) to twelve
(12) years old;


(b) Medical Services refer to hospital services, professional services of physicians and
other health care professionals and diagnostics and laboratory tests that are
necessary for the diagnosis or treatment of an illness or injury;

(©) Dental services refer to oral examination, cleaning, permanent and temporary
filing, extractions and gum treatments, restoration, replacement or repositioning of
teeth, or alteration of the alveolar or periodontium process of the maxilla and the
mandible that are necessary for the diagnosis or treatment of an illness or injury;

(d) Guardian refers to a person who looks after and is legally responsible for a junior
citizen whose parents have died or are estranged.

SEC. 4. Privileges for the Junior Citizens. — For purposes of this Act, only junior citizens whose
annual family income does not exceed Two Hundred Fifty Thousand (P250,000.00) Pesos,
shall be entitled to the following:

(a) the grant of Twenty Percent (20%) discount and exemption from the value — added
tax (VAT), if applicable, on the sale of the following goods and services from all
establishments, for the exclusive use and enjoyment or availment of the junior citizen

(1) on the purchase of medicines, including the purchase of vaccines, and such
other essential medical supplies, accessories and equipment to be
determined by the Department of Health (DOH).

The DOH shall establish guidelines and mechanism of compulsory rebates in the
sharing of burden of discounts among retailers, manufacturers and distributors,
taking into consideration their respective margins;

(2) on the purchase of milk supplements of children aged four (4) to twelve (12)
years old;

(8) on the professional fees of attending physician/s in all private hospitals,
medical facilities, outpatient clinics and home health care services;

(4) on the professional fees of licensed professional health providing home
health care services as endorsed by private hospitals;

(5) on medical and dental services, diagnostic and laboratory fees in all private
hospitals, medical facilities, outpatient clinics, and home health care services,
in accordance with the rules and regulations to be issued by the DOH, in
Coordination with the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth);


(6) on admission fees charged by theaters, cinema houses and concert halls,
circuses, leisure and amusement; and

(7) on funeral and burial services for the death of junior citizens;

(b) free medical and dental services, diagnostic and laboratory fees such as, but not
limited to, x-rays, computerized tomography scans and blood tests, in all government
facilities, subject to the guidelines to be issued by the DOH in coordination with the
PhilHealth;

(c) the DOH, through the government hospitals and health centers, shall administer all
necessary pediatric vaccinations including anti-influenza virus and pneumococcal
disease for junior citizen patients for free;

SEC. 5. Requirements and Qualifications. - In order to avail the aforementioned privileges, the
Parent(s) or guardian(s) of the junior citizen, must secure from the barangay or the local
government unit a Junior Citizen Identification Card and booklet.

In order for a junior citizen to be issued the Junior Citizen ID and booklet, the parent/s or
guardians must present the following requirements:

(a) an original or certified true copy of the child's birth certificate issued by the Philippine
Statistics Authority; and

(b) Income Tax Return showing that the family's annual income does not exceed Php
250,000.00; or

(©) Certification from the Department of Social Welfare and Development for indigency

SEC. 6. Availment of Benefits. - In the purchase of goods and services which are on
Promotional discount, the junior citizen can avail of the promotional discount or the discount
provided herein, whichever is higher.”

SEC. 7. Mandatory PhilHealth Coverage. - All junior citizens shall be covered by the national
health insurance program of PhilHealth and are therefore automatic PhilHealth members until
they reach the age of Twelve (12), regardless of family income.

SEC. 8. Penalties. - Any person or establishment who refuses to provide the abovementioned
Privileges or violates any provision of this Act shall suffer the following penalties:

(a) For the first violation, a fine of not less than Fifty Thousand Pesos (Php50,000.00)
but not exceeding One Hundred Thousand Pesos (Php100,000.00);


(b) For any subsequent violation, imprisonment of not less than two (2) years but not
more than six (6) years and a fine of not less than One Hundred thousand pesos
(Php100,000.00) but not exceeding Two hundred thousand pesos (Php200,000.00);
and

(c) Any parent or guardian who abuses the privileges granted herein shall be punished
with imprisonment of not less than six (6) months and a fine of not less than Fifty
Thousand Pesos (Php50,000.00) but not more than One Hundred Thousand Pesos
(Php100,000.00).

If the offender is a corporation, partnership, organization or any similar entity, the officials
thereof directly involved such as the president, general manager, managing partner, or such
other officer charged with the management of the business affairs shall be liable therefor. If the
Officer of the said corporation is an alien or a foreigner, he/she shall be deported immediately
after service of sentence.

Upon filing of an appropriate complaint, and after due notice and hearing, the proper authorities
may also cause the cancellation or revocation of the business permit, permit to operate,
franchise and other similar privileges granted to any person, establishment or business entity
that fails to abide by the provisions of this Act."

SEC. 9. Monitoring and Coordinating Mechanism. - A National Coordinating and Monitoring
Board shall be established which shall be composed of the following:

(@) Chairperson - the Secretary of the Department of Health or an authorized
representative;

() Vice Chairperson - the Secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and
Development or an authorized representative: and

(c) Members:

(1) the Secretary of the DOJ or an authorized representative;

(2) the Secretary of the DILG or an authorized representative;

(3) the Secretary of the DTI or an authorized representative; and

(4) representatives from five (5) NGOs for junior citizens which are duly accredited
by the DOH and/or DSWD and have service primarily for junior citizens, such as
but not limited to orphanages and the like.

Representatives of NGOs shall serve a period of tree (3) years.


The Board may call on other government agencies, NGOs to serve as resource persons as the
need arises. Resource person have no right to vote in the National Coordinating and Monitoring
Board.

SEC. 10. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of
this Act, the Secretary of Health shall formulate the Implementing Rules and Regulations to
carry out the objectives of this Act, including the creation of the Office of the Junior Citizens
Affairs, in consultation with the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the
Departments of Finance, the Philippine Health Insurance (Philhealth), the DOJ, the DILG, the
DTI, the DOTC, the NEDA, the DepED, and five (5) NGOs for the junior citizens duly accredited
by the DSWD.

SEC. 11. Appropriations. - The Necessary appropriations for the operation and maintenance of
the OJCA shall be appropriated and approved by the LGUs concerned. For national
government agencies, the requirements to implement the provisions of this Act shall be
included in their respective budgets: Provided, That the funds to be used for the national health
program and for the vaccination of junior citizens in the first year of the DOH and thereafter, as
a line item under the under the DOH budget in the subsequent General Appropriations Act
(GAA).

SEC 12. Repealing Clause. - All law, executive orders, rules and regulations or any
part hereof inconsistent herewith are deemed repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC.13. Separability Clause. - If any part or provision of this Act shall be declared
unconstitutional and invalid, such declaration shall not invalidate other parts thereof
which shall remain in full force and effect.

SEC. 14. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days upon its complete

publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation,
whichever comes earlier.

Approved.