Quezon City 
Nineteenth Congress 
Third Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. 
Introduced by Hon. Charisse Anne C. Hernandez 
Lone District of Calamba City, Laguna 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The "Free Maintenance Medicine for Senior Citizens Act" is a legislative proposal that 
will help our elderly population deal with their chronic and long-term medical conditions. It 
acknowledges the fundamental importance of preserving and enhancing the health and well-
being of senior citizens in our society. 
In my experience, senior citizens are lining up in different government offices just to 
ask for their “everyday medicines,” especially those who are financially-strained or have been 
left alone in their lives. This is a burden on our elders, and this bill aims to alleviate their lives 
through the assistance of the government by giving them free maintenance medicines. 
We can create with the help of our Department of Health by providing our health 
centers a sufficient supply of maintenance medicines for them that they can easily access. We 
acknowledge that managing chronic diseases and life-long illnesses must not be compromised 
by our economic shortcomings. 
Furthermore, the bill is a display of honoring and caring for our senior citizens who 
have contributed to our nation's growth and development over the years.  
In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
CHARISSE ANNE C. HERNANDEZ 
Lone District of Calamba City, Laguna
11419
February 4, 2025
3:48 pm


Quezon City 
Nineteenth Congress 
Third Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. 
Introduced by Hon. Charisse Anne C. Hernandez 
Lone District of Calamba City, Laguna 
AN ACT GRANTING FREE MAINTENANCE MEDICINES TO SENIOR 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 "Free Maintenance 
Medicines for Senior Citizens Act." 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. – Consonant with Article XIII, Sec. 11 of the 
Constitution which provides that the State shall adopt an integrated and comprehensive 
approach to health and other social services available to all people at affordable cost, giving 
priority to the underprivileged, sick, elderly, disabled, women and children, it is hereby 
declared the policy of the State to protect and promote the health and well-being of elderly 
citizens for their continued meaningful contribution and participation in the society. This Act 
seeks to provide free maintenance medications for our senior citizens, thereby enhancing their 
quality of life and health outcomes. 
SECTION 3. Free Maintenance Medicine – The government through Department of 
Health and Department of Interior and Local Government shall provide free maintenance 
medicine to qualified senior citizens. The DOH shall identify a list of maintenance medicines 
for senior citizens and shall be supplied to all our barangay health centers, super health centers 
and rural health units. The DILG must provide the list of qualified senior citizen beneficiaries 
for this free maintenance medicines which they have to turnover to our DOH. 
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SECTION 4. Qualified Beneficiaries. - To qualify for the Free Maintenance 
Medicines, a senior citizen must meet the following criteria: 
(a) 
Be a Filipino citizen and a registered senior citizen as defined in Republic Act 
No. 9994. 
(b) 
Submit an application to the Department of Health (DOH) or its designated 
agency, accompanied by a valid prescription for maintenance medications issued by 
application. 
(c) 
Once approved, beneficiaries shall be issued a Free Maintenance Medicine Card. 
SECTION 5. Implementation and Coordination. - The Department of Health (DOH) 
shall be responsible for the implementation of this Act and shall coordinate with other relevant 
agencies, including the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and National 
Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC) to ensure the efficient distribution of the Free 
Maintenance Medicine 
SECTION 6. Monitoring and Evaluation. - The DOH shall establish a monitoring 
system to track the utilization of the Free Maintenance Medicine for Senior Citizens Act. The 
DOH shall submit an annual report to Congress detailing the program's effectiveness and 
impact on senior citizens' health and well-being. 
SECTION 7. Penalties. - Any person who commits fraud, misrepresentation, or any 
form of abuse in the application or use of the Free Maintenance Medicine for Senior Citizens 
shall be subject to penalties as prescribed by law. 
SECTION 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The DOH, in coordination with 
the DILG, NCSC and other relevant agencies, shall promulgate the necessary rules and 
regulations to effectively implement this Act within ninety (90) days from its effectivity. 
SECTION 9. Separability Clause. – If any part, section, or provision of this Act is held 
invalid or unconstitutional, other provisions not affected shall remain in full force and effect. 
SECTION 10. Repealing Clause. – All laws, decrees, orders, rules, and regulations or 
parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or amended accordingly. 
SECTION 11. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,