SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session 
SENAIE 
S.No. 
2~93 
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) 
) 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
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JUN 30P 4 :34 
ESTABLISHING AN ADVISORY OFFICE WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF 
TRADE AND INDUSTRY TO PREVENT FRAUD TARGETING SENIORS 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 15, Section 4, provides: "The family has the duty to care 
for its elderly members but the State may also do so through just programs of social 
security." 
The seniors have the right to be free from abuse or exploitation of any kind. This 
bill directs the Departmel1t of Trade and Industry (DTI) to establish an advisory office 
within the Bureau of Trade Regulation and Consumer Protection to help the department 
in the prevention of fraud or scams specifically designed to rip off vulnerable seniors' life 
savings and pensions, and to assist the department in monitoring the market for mail, 
television, Internet, and telemarketing fraud including recorded message telephone calls 
or "robocalls" targeting seniors. 
The advisory office will help the DTI in alerting consumers about new scams 
targeting senior citizens. Under the bill, the DTI is also required to establish an effective 
complaint system to ensure that reports of fraud are immediately referred to the 
appropriate law enforcement agency.l 
~~~)~ 
~MIRIAM DEF~SOR SA}.iTIlGO 
I This bill was originally filed by Senators Amy Klobuchar and Susan Collins in the U.S. Senate 
(S. 1358; 113
1
1> Congress, I" Session). 
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, , 
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
'\4 
JUN 30 P 4 :34 
~ 
SENATE 
S,No. 
2293 
RJoX'EIVED R't':-f. 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
.,» ~ , 
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Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
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AN ACT 
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ESTABLISHING AN ADVISORY OFFICE WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF 
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TRADE AND INDUSTRY TO PREVENT FRAUD TARGETING SENIORS 
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SECTION 1. Short Title. -
This Act shall be known as the "Seniors Fraud 
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Prevention Act"; 
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SECTION 2. Office for the Prevention of Fraud Targeting Seniors.-
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(a) Establishment of Advisory Office. - The Department of Trade and Industry 
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(here referred to as the "DTI") shall establish an office within the Bureau of Trade 
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Regulation and Consumer Protection for the purpose of advising the DTI on the 
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prevention of fraud targeting seniors and to assist the DTI with the following: 
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(1) Oversight. - The advisory office shall monitor the market for mail, 
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television, Internet, and telemarketing fraud including recorded message telephone 
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calls (here referred to as "robocalls") targeting seniors and shall coordinate with 
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other relevant agencies regarding the requirements of this Act. 
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(2) Consumer Education, - The DTI through the advisory office shall, after 
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consultation with the Secretary of Justice, the Secretary of Health, the Postmaster 
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General, and other relevant agencies-
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(A) disseminate to seniors and families and caregivers of seniors 
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general information on mail, television, Internet, telemarketing, and 
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robocall fraud targeting seniors, including descriptions of the most common 
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fraud schemes; 
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(B) disseminate to seniors and families and caregivers of seniors 
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information on reported complaints of fraud targeting seniors either through 
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a telephone number or website established by the DTI for reporting such 
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complaints, where such complaints will become immediately available to 
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appropriate law enforcement agencies, including the National Bureau of 
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Investigation; 
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(C) in response to a specific request about a particular entity or 
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individual, provide publically available information of enforcement action 
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taken by the DTI for mail, television, Internet, telemarketing, and robocall 
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fraud against such entity; and 
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(D) maintain a website to serve as a resource for information for 
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seniors and families and caregivers of seniors regarding mail, television, 
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Internet, telemarketing, robocall, and other identified fraud targeting 
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seniors. 
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(3) Complaints. -
The DTI through the advisory office shall, after 
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consultation with the Secretary of Justice, establish procedures to: 
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(A) log and acknowledge the receipt of complaints by individuals 
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who believe they have been a victim of mail, television, Internet, 
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telemarketing, and robocall fraud and must make those complaints 
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immediately available to local law enforcement authorities; 
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(B) provide to individuals described in subparagraph (A), and to any 
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other persons, specific and general information on mail, television, 
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telemarketing and robocall fraud, including descriptions of the most 
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common schemes using such methods of communication. 
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(b) Commencement. - The DTI shall commence carrying out the requirements of 
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this Act not later than one year after the date of its effectivity. 
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SECTION 3. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof, is held invalid 
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or unconstitutional, the remainder 0 f the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall 
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remain valid and subsisting. 
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SECTION 4. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, 
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executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to 
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or is inconsistent with the provision of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended 
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accordingly. 
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SECTION 5. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after 
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its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
/fldp23 june2014 
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