FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The constitutional mandate to provide integrated and comprehensive social 
services and measures to ensure that senior citizens are adequately assisted affirms the 
State’s recognition of the elderly as significant members of the society. Article XII, 
Section 11 of the Constitution provides that the needs of the elderly shall be given 
priority, including, but not limited to, making essential goods, health and other social 
services available at affordable cost. 
Republic Act No. 7432, otherwise known as the “Senior Citizens Act,” as 
amended by Republic Act No. 9257 or the “.Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2003” were 
enacted to grant benefits and special privileges to the elderly in response to the State’s 
constitutional mandate. These laws granted a twenty percent (20%) discount to senior 
citizens, with government-issued senior citizen card, for the utilization of services in 
hotels and similar lodging establishment, restaurants and recreation centers, and 
purchase of medicines in all establishments; admission fees charged by theaters, cinema 
houses and concert halls, circuses, carnivals, and other similar places of culture, leisure 
and amusement; medical and dental services, and diagnostic and laboratory fees; fare 
for domestic air and sea travel; and public railways, skyways and bus fare for the 
exclusive use or enjoyment of senior citizens. 
However, amendments to these existing privileges are fundamental to adjust to 
recent events and social realities and to effectively carry out the objectives of said laws. 
The twelve percent (12%) Expanded Value Added Tax (EVAT) resulted to senior 
citizens effectively receiving less than half of the (20%) discount intended. 
Another common difficulty encountered by the senior citizens is the refusal of 
establishments, particularly some pharmacies and drug stores, to honor the senior 
citizen card and their imposition of additional requirements not provided in the law, 
such as a written authorization from the ill senior citizen. An additional concern for 
most elderly is their frequent hospitalization due to their health condition, worsened by 
their vulnerability to contract diseases during their hospitalization. 
This bill therefore seeks to amend RA 7432, as amended by RA 9257, in order to 
address the above concerns of our valued senior citizens by: 
(a) increasing the discount granted to them to thirty-two percent (32%); 
(b) imposing stiffer penalties to pharmacies and drug stores which refuse to 
honor senior citizen card issued by the government; and 


(c) providing them free vaccination against influenza virus and other 
pneumococcal disease prior to their discharge from any government hospital 
where he or she is admitted for a period of more than twenty-four (24) hours 
for a condition unrelated to the influenza virus or pneumococcal disease. 
The intent of the bill is threefold: re-enforce State support for senior citizens 
through discounts, sanction pharmacies and drug stores for non-compliance of the 
Senior Citizens Act and effectively address the health concern of our senior citizens. 
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
__7 
Senator 


FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
,
-
 
j I  
Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda 
AN ACT 
GRANTING ADDITIONAL BENEFITS AND PRIVILEGES TO SENIOR CITIZENS 
AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT 9257, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS 
THE ”EXPANDED SENIOR CITIZENS ACT OF 2003” AND FOR OTHER 
PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the ”Expanded Senior Citizens 
Act of 2008”. 
SECTION 2. Additional Privileges for Senior Citizens - Section 4 of R.A. No. 9257, 
otherwise known as the ”Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2003” is hereby further 
amended to read as follows: 
”Sec. 4. Privileges for the Senior Citizens. - The Senior Citizens shall be entitled 
to the following: 
(a) the grant of [twenty percent (20%)] THIRTY-TWO PERCENT (32%) 
discount from all establishments relative to the utilization of services in 
hotels and similar lodging establishment, restaurants and recreation 
centers, and purchase of medicines in all establishments for the exclusive 
use or enjoyment of senior citizens, including funeral and burial services 
for the death of senior citizens; 
(b) a minimum of [twenty percent (20%)] THIRTY-TWO PERCENT (32%) 
discount on admission fees charged by theaters, cinema houses and 
concert halls, circuses, carnivals, and other similar places of culture, 
leisure and amusement for the exclusive use or enjoyment of senior 
citizens; 
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(f) FREE VACCINATION AGAINST THE INFLUENZA VIRUS AND 
PNEUMOCOCCAL DISEASE PRIOR TO THEIR DISCHARGE FROM 
ANY GOVERNMENT HOSPITAL WHERE HE OR SHE IS ADMITTED 
FOR A PERIOD OF MORE THAN TWENTY-FOUR (24) HOURS FOR 
A CONDITION UNRELATED TO THE INFLUENZA VIRUS OR 
PNEUMOCOCCAL DISEASE; 
[fI (g) the grant of [twenty percent (2O%)] THIRTY-TWO PERCENT (32%) 
discount on medical and dental services, and diagnostic and laboratory 
fees provided under Sec. 4 (e) hereof, including professional fees of 
attending doctors in all private hospitals and medical facilities, in 
accordance with the rules and regulations to be issued by the Department 
of Health, in coordination with the Philippine Health Insurance 
Corporation; 
[g] (h) the grant of [twenty percent (2O%)] THIRTY-TWO PERCENT (32%) 
discount in fare for domestic air and sea travel for the exclusive use or 
enjoyment of senior citizens; 
[h] (i) the grant of [twenty percent (20%)] THIRTY-TWO PERCENT (32%) 
discount in public railways, skyways and bus fare for the exclusive use 
and enjoyment of senior citizens;” 
xxx 
SECTION 3. Sfifler Penalties on Pharmacies and Drug Stoves which Reji*ses to Honor 
Senior Citizen Card Issued by the Government - Section 8 of RA No. 9257 is hereby further 
amended to read as follows: 
”Sec. 8 - Penalties - Any person who violates any provision of this Act shall suffer 
the following penalties: 
(1) For the first violation, a fine of not less than Fifty thousand pesos 
(P50,OOO.OO) but not exceeding One hundred thousand pesos (PlOO,OOO.OO) 
and imprisonment of not less than six (6) months but not more than two 
(2) years; and 
(2) For any subsequent violation, a fine of not less than One hundred 
thousand pesos (PlO0,OOO.OO) but exceeding Two hundred thousand pesos 
(P200,OOO.OO) and imprisonment for not less than two (2) years but not less 
than six (6) years. 
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If the offender is a corporation, organization or any similar entity, the 
official thereof directly involved shall be liable therefore; PROWD€D, THAT 
THE OWNER, MANAGER AND/OR EMPLOYEE OF ANY PHARMACY AND 
DRUG STORE WHO REFUSES TO HONOR THE SENIOR CITIZEN CARD 
ISSUED BY THE GOVERNMENT SHALL, IF FOUND GUILTY, BE 
PUNISHED WITH A FINE OF NOT LESS THAN ONE THOUSAND PESOS 
(P1,OOO) NOR MORE THAN FIVE THOUSAND PESOS (P5,OOO) OR 
IMPRISONMENT OF NOT LESS THAN ONE (1) MONTH NOR MORE 
THAN SIX (6) MONTHS OR BOTH SUCH FINE AND IMPRISONMENT AT 
THE DISCRETION OF THE COURT. 
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THE OFFICE FOR THE SENIOR CITIZENS AFFAIRS (OSCA) SHALL, 
UPON COMPLAINT, ASSIST THE SENIOR CITIZEN IN FILING A 
COMPLAINT AGAINST A BUSINESS ENTITY WITH THE CITY OR 
MUNICIPAL TRIAL COURT.” 
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SECTION 4. Implementing Rules and Regulations - Within thirty (30) days from 
the effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of Social Welfare and Development shall 
formulate and adopt amendments to the existing rules and regulations implementing 
Republic Act No. 7432, as amended by Republic Act No. 9257, to carry out the objectives 
of this Act, in consultation with the Department of Finance, Department of Tourism, 
Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Labor and Employment, Department 
of Health, 
Department of Interior and Local Government and Department of 
Transportation and Communications. 
SECTION 5. Repealing Clause - All laws, executive orders, rules and regulations, 
or any part thereof inconsistent herewith are deemed repealed or modified accordingly. 
SECTION 6. Separability Clause - If any part of provision of this Act shall be 
declared unconstitutional and valid, such declaration shall not invalidate other parts 
thereof, which shall remain in full force and effect. 
SECTION 7. Effectivity - This Act shall take fifteen (15) days after its complete 
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general 
circulation, whichever comes earlier. 
Approved, 
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