Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City,  Metro Manila
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
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INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE MILAGROS AQulNO -MAGSAYSAY
AN ACT AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7876, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE
"SENIOR CITIZENS CENTERS ACT", PROVIDING FOR ITS MANDATORY
ESTABLISHMENT AND CONTINUED OPERATION, lvIAXIMIZING ITS
FUNCTIONALITY UNDER THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS
EXPLANATORY NOTE
This  bill  seeks  to  amend  Republic Act  (RA)  No.  7876,  otherwise  known  as  the
"Senior Citizens  Centers Act",  reiterating  its  mandatory  establishment,  providing  for its
resources and clarifying its management and supervision at the local government level.
RA 7876 or the Senior Citizens Center Act was passed together with the original
Senior Citizens law, RA 7432 in the early 1990s. RA 7432, has since been amended twice
through   Republic  Act  No.   9257  and  the  current  prevailing  RA  9994,  expanding  the
benefits and  privileges  of senior citizens,  and  providing for more  responsive  programs
and services to address their needs.  However,  RA 7876 which was a "complementary"
law,  aimed at providing a definite facility for senior citizens to conduct their activities and
as  an  added  government  resource  for  extending  elderly  programs  and  services,  was
never revisited nor improved to maximize its functionality.
V\/ith  the  increasing  ageing  population  of the  Philippines,  more  and  more  senior
citizens  require  the  services  and  assistance  of the  government  from  its  programs.  A
concrete venue and allotted space for conducting these programs and services is vital to
ensure effective and efficient implementation of these mandated government assistance.
After  almost  thirty  (30)  years,   jt  is  imperative  that  this  law  is  amended  to  make  it
operational  once  again,  and  to  be  optimized  to  provide  adequate  social  services  and
ultimately improve the quality of life for our beloved  Filipino senior citizens.
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly recommended.


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City,  Metro Manila
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
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HOUSE BILL NO.
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE MILAGROS AQUINO -MAGSAYSAY
AN ACT AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7876, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE
"SENIOR CITIZENS CENTERS ACT", PROVIDING FOR ITS MANDATORY
ESTABLISHMENT AND CONTINUED OPERATION,  MAXIMIZING ITS
FUNCTIONALITY UNDER THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress Assembled
SECTION 1. Section (4) of RA 7876 on the establishment of centers is hereby amended
to read as follows:
"Section  4.  Establishment  of Centers.  -  There  is  hereby  established  a  senior
citizens center,  hereinafter referred to as the Center,  in every city and municipality of
the   Philippines,   under   direct   supervision   of  the   Provincial   Social   Welfare   and
Development   Office   (PSWDO),   in   collaboration   with   the   local   government   unit
concerned   and  technical   assistance  of  the   Department  of  Social   Welfare  and
Development (DS\/\/D) regional or Field Office."
SECTION 2. Section (5) on the Functions of the centers is hereby amended to read as
follows:
"Sec. 5. Functions of the Centers. -The centers shall now be solely under the local
government  units'  supervision  and  management,  particularly  the  Provincial  Social
Welfare and Development Office. As an identified facility and venue specifically for the
benefit of the senior citizens in the community, they shall be recognized as the place
to  conduct  and  carry  out  recreational,   educational,   health  and  social   protection
programs and services for the full enjoyment and benefit of the senior citizens in the
city or municipality.


These may include,  but are not limited to, the following activities:
(a)  Identify  the  skills  trainings,  learning  needs  or  self-improvement  opportunities  of
senior citizens in the cities and municipalities;
(b)   Initiate,   develop   and   implement   economically   productive   activities,   income-
generating or work schemes for senior citizens in order to provide additional sources
of livelihood or otherwise supplement their earnings in the local community;
(c)    Promote    better   coordination   with    provincial    government   units   and    other
instrumentalities of government and the city and municipal councils for the elderly,  by
utilizing  the  Center as  the  office  space  or  location  of the  Office  of Senior  Citizens
Affairs (OSCAs);
d)   Facilitate   networking   and   linkages   with   the   Federation   of   Senior   Citizens
Association  of the  Philippines  (FSCAP),  or any  other legitimate  and  duly-registered
senior citizens  organizations,  including  People's  Organizations  or  Non-Government
Organizations (NGOs) catering to the needs and concerns of the elderly through the
delivery of health care services,  professional counseling services,  volunteer training
and community self-help projects; and
(e)  Encourage the  utilization of the space or facility for any other relevant activity or
functions  which  are  necessary  to  carry  out the  purpose  for which  the  centers  are
established, and which will benefit the community's senior citizens.
(f)  Recreational, educational,  health, and social functions.
SECTION 3. Section (6) of RA 7876 on Center Workers is hereby amended to read as
follows:
"See. 6. Center Workers and Volunteers. -The Provincial Governor may designate
social workers as the workers of the centers:  Provided,  however, That the Provincial
Governor  may  appoint  other  personnel  who  possess  the  necessary  professional
qualifications to work efficiently with the elderly of the community. The Governor may
also  call  upon  private  volunteers who  are  responsible  members  of the community,
preferably from the duly recognized senior citizens organizations or local Civil Society
Organizations (CSOs) to provide medical, educational and other services and facilities
for the senior citizens."
SECTION 4. Section (7) on the Qualification/Disqualification of senior citizens from the
use of the Center, is hereby amended to read as follows:


"See. 7.  Utilization of the Center and Availment of Services. - A senior citizen
who suffers from a contagious disease, or who is mentally unfit or unsound or whose
actuations are inimical to other senior citizens as determined by the City or Municipal
Social Welfare Officer of the locality, on the basis of an appropriate certification by a
qualified  government  or  private volunteer  physician,  including  the  Barangay  Health
Center authorities,  may  be  denied  access to  and  use of the Center.  However,  the
above-mentioned officials must refer the senior citizen concerned to the appropriate
government agency for the needed medical care or confinement, or any other relevant
service or intervention.
For  this  purpose,  it  is  hereby  emphasized  that ANY  or ALL  senior citizens  of the
community are entitled to the use and benefits of the services provided in the Center,
without discrimination, whether affiliated or not with any senior citizens organization in
the locality as long as the activities or projects are relevant or related to senior citizens
rights and welfare."
SECTION 5. Section (8) on the Exemptions of the Center is hereby amended to read as
follows:
"See.  8.  Exemptions  and  Entitlements  of the  Center.  -  The  Center  shall  be
exempted from the payment of customs duties, taxes and tariffs on the importation of
equipment and supplies used actually, directly and exclusively by the Center pursuant
to this Act, including those donated to the Center.
The Center shall likewise enjoy the utility discounts for electricity consumption, water
supply, and telecommunications services as provided for under Republic Act No. 9994
as a form of institutional support and  incentive for all facilities and venues which are
solely utilized for the benefit of senior citizens,  subject to the technical  requirements
and practical arrangements with the utility service providers, such as separate meters
and billing statements."
SECTION 6. Section (9) on the rules and regulations of this Act is hereby amended to read
as follows:
"Sec. 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. -Within ninety (90) days from the
approval  of  this  Act,  the  Department  of  Interior  and  Local  Government  (DILG),  in
coordination with  the  Department of Social Welfare and  Development  (DSWD)  and
the National Commission for Senior Citizens (NCSC), and proper consultation with the
League of City  Mayors of the Philippines  (LCP),  League of Munidpal  Mayors of the
Philippines (LMP) and Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP), shall issue
the  rules  and  regulations  to  effectively  implement  the  provisions  of  this  Act.  Any
violation of this section shall render the concerned official(s) liable under Republic Act
No. 6713, otherwise known as the "Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public
Officials and Employees" and other existing administrative and/or criminal laws."


SECTION  7.  Section  (10) of RA 7876 on the coordination of government agencies  is
hereby amended to read as follows:
"Sec.10. Coordination of Government Agencies. -The DILG, together with the
DSWD  and  National  Commission  for Senior Citizens  (NCSC),  shall  coordinate with
other  relevant  government  agencies   like  the   Department  of  Health   (DOJ),   the
Department   of   Trade   and   Industry   (DTl),   the   Technical   Education   and   Skills
Development Authority (TESDA), the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE),
the   Department   of  Agriculture   (DA)   or   other   government   agencies   and   local
government units, which shall  be tasked to extend related programs and services to
the senior citizens shall assist in the effective implementation of this Act and provide
the necessary support services."
SECTION  8.  Section  (11)  of  RA  7876  on  the  appropriation  or fund  source  is  hereby
amended to read as follows:
"See.11, Appropriations. -The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of this
Act shall  be included  in the General Appropriations Act of the year pertaining to the
above-mentioned government agencies and local government units involved following
its  enactment  into  law  and   every  year  thereafter.   The  sum   necessary  for  the
continuous  operation  of  the  centers  shall   be  taken  from  the  increased   Internal
Revenue  Allotment  (IRA)  of the  local  government  units  concerned  as  part  of the
greater  share   in   the   national   tax   revenues   generated   in   accordance  with   the
Mandanas Supreme Court ruling of 2018."
SECTION 9. Separability Clause -lf any portion or provision of this Act is declared invalid
or unconstitutional, other provisions not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and
effect.
SECTION  10. Repealing clause -All laws, decrees, executive orders,  rules or regulations
contrary  to  or inconsistent with  the  provisions of this Act are  hereby  repealed  or modified
accordingly.
SECTloN 11. Effectivity -This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after publication in the
Official Gazette or in newspaper of general circulation.
Approved