Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

=
House BLN, 9495

INTRODUCED BY CONGRESSMAN ALFRED VARGAS.

EXPLANATORY NOTE,

The State has the responsibility to make public transportation facilities and utilities
accessible to everyone, especially to the vulnerable sectors like persons with disabilities
and senior citizens, Under Batas Pambansa Bilang 344 or the Accessibility Law, public
transport providers are required to designate seats for persons with disabilities and
conspicuously display posters and stickers to generate awareness, However, the amended
Expanded Senior Citizens Act does not contain a similar provision; the Republic Act No.
9995 only directs the Department of Transportation “to develop a program to assist senior
citizens to fully gain access to public transport facilities.”

‘The provision of reserved seating for persons with disabilities (PWDs), senior
citizens, and pregnant women is also instructed by the Department of Transportation,
formerly known as the Department of Transportation and Communications or DOTC,
through its Department Order No. 2014-013. But our Jolos and lolas continue to lament the
lenient implementation of these laws and executive orders as they find themselves standing
on a cramped and moving vehicle while non-eligible passengers occupy the seats
designated to them,

This bill seeks to further strengthen the Expanded Senior Citizens Act and provide
priority seating for the elderly on land, water, and air transport utilities. It also provides

penalties for public transports operators who will violate this.

In view of the foregoing, the approval of this measure is sought.

ALFRED VARGAS


Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

5495

HOUSE BILL NO,

INTRODUCED BY CONGRESSMAN ALFRED VARGAS

ANACT
REQUIRING LAND, AIR, AND SEA TRANSPORT PROVIDERS TO PROVIDE PRIORITY
SEATING FOR THE ELDERLY, FURTHER AMENDING FOR THIS PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT
NO. 7432, AS AMENDED BY REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9257 AND 994, OTHERWISE KNOWN
AS THE “EXPANDED SENIOR CITIZEN'S ACT OF 2010”

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 “Priority Seating for the
Elderly Act.”

SEC. 2. Amendatory Provision. - For the purposes of this Act, the following
provisions of Republic Act No, 7432, as amended by Republic Act No. 9257 and 994,
otherwise known as the “Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010” is hereby further amended to
read as follows:

a) Section 5, Paragraph (f) of Republic Act No. 7432, as amended, is hereby further
amended as follows:

“SEC. 5. Government Assistance. ~ x x x
“(a) Employment
XXX

“(0 PRIORITY SEATING FOR THE ELDERLY

ALL PUBLIC UTILITY VEHICLES (PUV), PUBLIC UTILITY BUSES (PUB),
RAIL TRANSPORT PROVIDERS, AND AIR AND SEA TRANSPORT PROVIDERS,
SHALL RESERVE AND DESIGNATE THE BEST POSSIBLE SEATS FOR SENIOR
CITIZENS AS DETERMINED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
(DOTR), IN COORDINATION WITH THE LAND TRANPORTATION
FRANCHISING AND REGULATORY BOARD (LTFRB), THE PHILIPPINE
NATIONAL RAILWAYS (PNR), THE LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT AUTHORITY
(LRTA), THE MARITIME INDUSTRY AUTHORITY (MARINA), THE CIVIL



b)

AVIATION AUTHORITY OF THE PHILIPPINES (CAAP), AND THREE (3)
REPRESENTATIVES FROM REPUTABLE AND CONCERNED CIVIL SOCIETY
ORGANIZATIONS, AS DETERMINED BY THE DOTR.

THE PRIORITY SEATS SHALL BE CLEARLY LABELLED TO INDICATE
THAT PASSENGERS MAY USI BUT MUST VACATE THEM IF THEY ARE
NEEDED BY AN ELDERLY PASSENGER: PROVIDED, THAT PASSENGERS WHO
ARE PREGNANT OR DISABLED SHALL BE EXEMPTED FROM THIS
PROVISION,

COMMERCIAL AIR AND SEA TRANSPORT PROVIDERS SHALL ENSURE
THAT PRIORITY SEATS ARE MADE AVAILABLE TO ELDERLY PASSENGERS
DURING THE RESERVATION OF SEATS. ELDERLY PASSENGERS MAY NOT BE
TRANSFERRED TO OTHER SEATS OR BUMPED OFF WITH AT LEAST ONE (1)
WEEK OF PRIOR NOTICE AND WITHOUT REASON,

{The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) shall
develop a program to assist senior citizens to fully gain access to public
transport facilities.]

“(g) Incentive for Foster Care

XxX’

Section 10 of Republic Act No. 7432, as amended, is hereby further amended as
follows:

“SEC. 10, Penalties. - xxx
“(a) xxx
"(b) xxx
"()xxx

ANY PUV OR PUB OPERATOR WHO FAILS TO COMPLY WITH SECTION
5(F) OF THIS ACT SHALL, UPON CONVICTION, BE IMPRISONED FOR TWO (2)
MONTHS TO ONE (1) YEAR OR PAY A FINE OF ONE THOUSAND PESOS (PHP
1,000.00) TO FIVE THOUSAND PESOS (PHP 5,000.00), WITHOUT

PREJUDICE TO THE IMPOSITION OF ADMINISTRATIVE SANCTIONS SUCH AS
SUSPENSION OR REVOCATION OF THEIR FRANCHISE;

ANY RAIL TRANSPORT OPERATOR WHO FAILS TO COMPLY WITH
SECTION 5(F) OF THIS ACT SHALL, UPON CONVICTION, BE IMPRISONE!
FOR FIVE (5) MONTHS TO TWO (2) YEARS OR PAY A FINE OF THIRTY



THOUSAND PESOS (PHP 30,000.00) TO FIFTY THOUSAND PESOS (PHP
50,000.00)

ANY COMMERCIAL AIR OR SEA TRANSPORT PROVIDER WHO FAILS TO
COMPLY WITH SECTION 5(F) OF THIS ACT SHALL, UPON CONVICTION, BE
IMPRISONED FOR FIVE (5) TO TEN (10) YEARS OR PAY A FINE OF ONE
HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS (PHP 100,000.00) TO FIVE HUNDRED
THOUSAND PESOS (PHP 500,000.00).

xXx

SEC. 3. Appropriations, - Such funds necessary to carry out the provisions of this
Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act

SEC. 4. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The DOTR, in coordination with the
LTFRB, PNR, LRTA, MARINA, CAAP, and three (3) representatives from reputable and
concerned civil society organizations, as determined by the DOTR, shall promulgate the
implementing rules and regulations of this Act within fifteen (15) days from its effectivity.

SEC, 5, Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, proclamations, rules
and regulations, and other issuances, or parts thereof which are inconsistent with the
provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

SEC. 6, Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in
the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,