SENTATIVES,

HOUSE OF REPS

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Introduced by: Hon. Angelina “Helen” D.L. Tan, M.D.

AN ACT REDEFINING THE TERM “INDIGENT SENIOR CITIZEN” UNDER
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7432, AS AMENDED BY REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9994,
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE “EXPANDED SENIOR CITIZENS ACT OF 2010”

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Article XIII, Section 11 of the 1987 Constitution provides that, "The State shall adopt an
integrated and comprehensive approach to health development which shall endeavor to make
essential goods, health-and other social services available to all the people at affordable cost.
There shall be priority for the needs of the underprivileged, sick, elderly, disabled, women, and
children. The State shall endeavor to provide free medical care to pauper.”

‘The Constitution also states in Article XV, Section 4 that, "The family has the duty to care
for its elderly members but the State may also do so through just programs of social security.”

Republic Act 9994 or the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010 provides an array of
benefits, privileges and assistance to senior citizens such as a twenty-percent (20%) discount
and exemption from the value-added tax (VAT), if applicable, on the sale of some goods and
services; death benefit assistance; educational assistance; free medical and dental services; and
exemption from training fees for socioeconomic programs, among others.

It also grants indigent senior citizens additional privileges such as free vaccines, social
pension and mandatory Philhealth coverage. An “indigent senior citizen” is defined under the
law as any elderly who is frail, sickly or with disability, and without pension or permanent
source of income, compensation or financial assistance from his/her relatives to support his/her
basic needs, as determined by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in
consultation with the National Coordinating and Monitoring Board.

Said definition excludes senior citizens who are not sick or disabled and who have
pension or other sources of income but who are nonetheless in dire need of additional
government assistance in the face of steep price of basic commodities and medical services.

‘This measure, which was approved on Third Reading by the House of Representatives on
May 25, 2015; seeks to make a more inclusive definition of “indigent senior citizen” by removing
the physical requirements and requirement of financial assistance by a senior citizen's relatives.
Hence, more senior citizens will feel more secure during the remaining years of their lives
Decauce of the guarantee that they will have the ready access to financial astistance and health
services.

In view thereof, approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

Qty
ANGELINA “HELEN” D.L. TAN, M.D.
4" District, Quezon


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
886
HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by: Hon. Angelina “Helen” D.L. Tan, M.D.

AN ACT REDEFINING THE TERM “INDIGENT SENIOR CITIZEN” UNDER
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 House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:

SECTION 1, Section 2, sub-paragraph h of Republic Act No. 7432, as amended by Republic
‘Act No. 9994, otherwise known as the “Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010”, is hereby further
amended to read as follows:

“SEC. 2. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, these terms are defined as follows:

00

"(h) Indigent senior citizen refers to any elderly who is [frail, sickly or with disability, and]
without pension, [or] permanent source of income, OR compensation [or financial assistance
from his/her relatives] to support [his/her] THE SENIOR CITIZEN'S basic needs, as
determined by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in consultation with
the National Coordinating and Monitoring Board."

SEC. 2. All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations, or parts thereof, which
are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

SEC. 3. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official
Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,