Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO, __ 2709

Introduced by HONORABLE MAR-LEN ABIGAIL S. BINAY

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Republic Act No. 9994 or the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of
2010 mandates the establishment of an Office for Senior Citizens
Affairs (“OSCA”) in all cities and municipalities. This measure is
aimed at providing an accessible avenue for identifying, recognizing
and addressing the issues plaguing the elderly community.

The Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010 further directs that
the OSCA be headed by a senior citizen who will enjoy a term of
three (3) years and will be entitled to an honorarium, subject to the
approval of the local government unit concerned. The OSCA head is
to be chosen from a list of three (3) nominees as recommended by
a general assembly of senior citizens organizations in the city or
municipality.

As is inevitable in positions imbued with responsibility and the
Power to highlight social concerns (thus commanding government
attention and action), the position of OSCA Head is a coveted one.

Keeping in mind the welfare of the senior citizens within the
local communities and the ensuring that they be well-represented,
the law must define basic eligibility requirements for the position of
OSCA Head. This bill proposes such eligibility requirements.

In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is earnestly
sought.

MAR-LEN pies S. BINAY


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS.
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. __2'759

Introduced by HONORABLE MAR-LEN ABIGAIL S. BINAY

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS OF THE HEAD
OF THE OFFICE FOR SENIOR CITIZENS AFFAIRS, FURTHER
AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION 6 OF REPUBLIC ACT
NO. 7342, AS LAST AMENDED BY REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9994,
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE EXPANDED SENIOR CITIZENS
ACT OF 2010.

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

SECTION 1. Republic Act No. 7342, as last amended by
Section 6 of Republic Act No. 9994, otherwise known as the
Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010, is hereby further amended to
read as follows:

Section 6. Section 6 of the same Act, as amended, is hereby
further amended to read as follows:

SEC. 6. The Office for Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA). - There
shall be established in all cities and municipalities an OSCA to
be headed by a senior citizen who shall be appointed by the
mayor for a term of three (3) years without reappointment
but without prejudice to an extension if exigency so requires.
Said appointee shall be chosen from a list of three (3)
nominees as recommended by a general assembly of senior
citizens organizations in the city or municipality.

NO PERSON SHALL BE NOMINATED TO THE POSITION OF
OSCA HEAD UNLESS HE IS A CITIZEN OF THE PHILIPPINES, A
RESIDENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNIT CONCERNED, A
REGISTERED VOTER OF THE CITY OR MUNICIPALITY, OF
GOOD MORAL CHARACTER, ABLE TO READ AND WRITE, AND
A BONA FIDE MEMBER OF A DULY ACCREDITED SENIOR
CITIZENS GROUP FOR AT LEAST THREE (3) YEARS ON THE
DAY OF HIS NOMINATION.


The head of the OSCA shall be appointed to serve the interest
of senior citizens and shall not be removed or replaced except
for reasons of death, permanent disability or ineffective
performance of his duties to the detriment of fellow senior
citizens.

The head of the OSCA shall be entitled to receive an
honorarium of an amount at least equivalent to Salary Grade
10 to be approved by the LGU concerned.

The head of the OSCA shall be assisted by the City Social
Welfare and Development officer or by the Municipal Social
Welfare and Development Officer, in coordination with the
Social Welfare and Development Office.

The Office of the Mayor shall exercise supervision over the
OSCA relative to their plans, activities and programs for
senior citizens. The OSCA shall work together and establish
linkages with accredited NGOs Pos and the barangays in their
respective areas.

The OSCA shall have the following functions:

(a) To plan, implement and monitor yearly work programs in
pursuance of the objectives of this Act;

(b) To draw up a list of available and required services which
can be provided by the senior citizens;

(c) To maintain and regularly update on a quarterly basis the
list of senior citizens and to issue national individual
identification cards, free of charge, which shall be valid
anywhere in the country;

(d) To serve as a general information and liason center for
senior citizens;

(e) To monitor compliance of the provisions of this Act
particularly the grant of special discounts and privileges to
senior citizens;

(f) To report to the mayor, any individual, establishments,
business entity, institutions or agency found violating any
Provision of this Act; and

(g) To assist the senior citizens in filing complaints or charges
against any individual, establishments, business entity,
institution, or agency refusing to comply with the privileges
under this Act before the Department of Justice (DOJ), the
Provincial Prosecutor's Office, the regional or the municipal
trial court, the municipal trial court in cities, or the municipal
circuit trial court."


Section 2. Repealing Clause - Any law, decree, executive
order, administrative order, or rules and regulations contrary to or
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed,
modified, and amended accordingly.

Section 3. Separability Clause - If any section or provision of
this Act is held unconstitutional or invalid, the other sections or
provisions hereof shall not be affected and thereby remain in full
force and effect.

Section 4. Effectivity - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15)
after its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general
circulation.

Approved,