FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
Third Regular Session 
) 
SENATE' 
S.B. No. 3561 
If! 
~,f'i:l")'· nJ';~r'" !'~v 
_ .. ...,.."J 
(In substitution of Senate Bill Nos. 79, 851,1344,1657,1676,1893,1922, 
1996,2154,2309,2373,2389,2864,2919,3061,3153,3311, and 3356) 
Prepared jointly by the Committees on Social. Justice, Welfare and Rural 
Development; Banks, Financial Institutions and Currencies; Constitutional 
Amendments, Revision of Codes and Laws;, Energy; Finance; Health and 
Demography; Justice and Human Rights; Local' Government; Ways and Means, 
and Women and Family Relations with Senators Legarda, Lapid, Santiago, 
Angara, Villar, Trillanes IV, Roxas, Revilla Jr., Cayetano AP, and Cayetano P. as 
authors thereof. 
AN ACT GRANTING ADDITIONAL BENEFITS AND PRIVILEGES TO SENIOR 
CITIZENS, FURTHER AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT 7432, AS AMENDED, 
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS "AN ACT TO MAXIMIZE THE CONTRIBUTION OF 
SENIOR CITIZENS TO NATION BUILDING, GRANT BENEFITS AND SPECIAL 
PRIVILEGES AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES" . 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
1 
SECTION 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Expanded Senior Citizens 
2 
Act of 2009". 
3 
4 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policies and Objectives. - As provided in the Constitution 
5 
of the Republic of the Philippines, it is the declared policy of the State to promote 
6 
a just and dynamic social order' that will ensure the prosperity and independence 
7 
of the nation and free the people from poverty through policies that provide 
8 
adequate social services, promote full employment, a rising standard of living 
9 
and an improved quality of life. In the Declaration of Principles and State Policies 
10 
in Article II, Sections 10 and 11, it is further declared that the State shall provide 
11 
social justice in all phases of national development and that the State values the 
12 
dignity of every human person and guarantees full respect for human rights. 
13 
Article XIII, Section 11 of the Constitution provides that the State shall 
14 
adopt an integrated and comprehensive approach to health development which 
15 
shall endeavor to make essential goods, health and other social services 
16 
available to all the people at affordable cost. T~ere shall be priority for the needs 
17 
of the underprivileged, sick, elderly, disabled, women and children. Article XV, 
18 
Section 4 of the Constitution further declares that it is the duty of the family to 


take care of its elderly members while the State may design programs of social 
2 
security for them. 
3 
Consistent with these constitutional principles, this Act shall serve the 
4 
following objectives: 
5 
a. To recognize the rights of senior citizens to take their proper place in 
6 
society and make it a concern of the family, community and government; 
7 
b. To give full support to the improvement of the total well-being of the 
8 
elderly and their full participation in society, considering that senior citizens are 
9 
integral part of Philippine society; 
10 
c. To motivate and encourage senior citizens to contl'ibute to nation 
11 
building; 
12 
d. To encourage their families and the communities they live with to 
13 
reaffirm the valued Filipino tradition of caring for senior citizens; 
14 
e. To provide a comprehensive health care and rehabilitation system for 
15 
disabled senior citizens to foster their capacity to attain a more meaningful and 
16 
productive aging; and 
17 
f. To recognize the important role of the private sector in the improvement 
18 
of the welfare of senior citizens and to actively seek their partnership. 
19 
In accordance with these objectives, this Act shall: 
20 
1. Establish mechanisms whereby the contributions of senior citizens are 
21 
maximized; 
22 
2. Adopt measures whereby our senior citizens are assisted and 
23 
appreciated by the community as a whole; 
24 
3. Establish a program beneficial to sel'lior citizens, their families and the 
25 
rest of the community that they serve; and 
26 
4. Establish community-based health and rehabilitation programs for 
27 
senior citizens in every political unit of society. 
28 
29 
SEC. 3. Section 2 of Republic Act 9257 is hereby further amended to read as 
30 
follows: 
31 
"SEC. 2. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, these terms are 
32 
defined as follows: 
33 
a. "Senior citizen" or "elderly" shall mean any resident citizen of the Philippines at 
34 
least sixty (60) years old; 
35 
b. "Geriatrics" shall refer to the branch of medical science devoted to the study of 
36 
the biological and physical changes and the diseases of old age; 
37 
c. "Lodging establishment" shall refer to a building, edifice, structure, apartment 
38 
or house including tourist inn,apartelle, motorist hotel, and pension house 
2 


engaged in catering, leasing or providing facilities to transients, tourists or 
2 
travelers. 
3 
d. "Medical services" shall refer to hospital services, professional services of 
4 
physicians and other health care professionals and diagnostic and laboratory 
5 
tests that are necessary for the diagnosis or treatment of an illness or injury. 
6 
e. "Dental services" shall refer to oral examination, cleaning, permanent and 
7 
temporary filling, extractions and gum treatments, restoration, replacement or 
8 
repositioning of teeth, or alteration of the alveolar or periodontium process of the 
9 
maxilla and the mandible that are necessary for the diagnosis or treatment of an 
10 
illness or injury. 
11 
f. "Nearest surviving relative" shall refer to the legal spouse who survives the 
12 
deceased senior citizens: Provided, That where no spouse survives the 
13 
decedent, this shall be limited to relatives in the following order of degree of 
14 
kinship: children, parents, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, uncles and 
15 
aunts. 
16 
., 
17 
SEC. 4. Section 4 of Republic Act 7432, as amended by Republic Act 9257, 
18 
otherwise known as the "Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2003" is hereby further 
19 
amended to read as follows: 
20 
"SEC. 4. Privileges for the Senior Citizens. - The senior citizens shall be 
21 
entitled to the following: 
22 
(a) The grant of twenty percent (20%) discount AND EXEMPTION FROM THE 
23 
VALUE·ADDED TAX (VAT) PROVIDED UNDER THE NATIONAL INTERNAL 
24 
REVENUE CODE ON THE SALE OF GOODS AND SERVICES FROM ALL 
2S 
ESTABLISHMENTS, for the exclusive use and enjoyment or availment of senior 
26 
citizens, of the following: 
27 
i. ON THE PURCHASE OF MEDICINES, INCLUDING THE 
28 
PURCHASE OF INFLUENZA AND PNEUMOCOCCAL VACCINES. THE 
29 
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH (DOH) SHALL ESTABLISH GUIDELINES 
30 
IN THE SHARING OF BURDEN OF DISCOUNT AMONG RETAILERS, 
31 
MANUFACTURERS AND DISTRIBUTORS; 
32 
ii. 
ON 
THE 
PROFESSIONAL 
FEES 
OF 
ATTENDING 
33 
PHYSICIANIS IN ALL PRIVATE HOSPITALS, MEDICAL FACILITIES, 
34 
AND OUTPATIENT CLINIC; 
35 
iii. ON MEDICAL AND DENTAL SERVICES, DIAGNOSTIC AND 
36 
LABORATORY FEES IN ALL PRIVATE HOSPITALS AND MEDICAL 
37 
FACILITIES, AND OUTPATIENT CLINIC, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE 
38 
RULES 
AND 
REGULATIONS 
TO' BE 
ISSUED 
BY 
DOH 
IN 
3 


COORDINATION WITH THE PHILIPPINE INSURANCE CORPORATION 
2 
(PHILHEAL TH); 
3 
iv. IN ACTUAL FARE FOR LAND TRANSPORTATION TRAVEL 
4 
IN PUBLIC UTILITY BUSES (PUB), PUBLIC UTILITY JEEPNEYS (PUJ), 
5 
TAXIS, ASIAN UTILITY VEHICLES (AUVS), SHUTTLE SERVICES AND 
6 
PUBLIC RAILWAYS, INCLUDING LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT (LRT), MASS 
7 
RAIL TRANSIT (MRT), AND PHILIPPINES NATIONAL RAILWAYS 
8 
(PNR). 
9 
v. IN ACTUAL TRANSPORTATION FARE FOR DOMESTIC AIR 
10 
TRANSPORT SERVICES AND SEA SHIPPING VESSEL AND THE 
11 
LIKE, BASED ON THE ACTUAL FARE, ADVANCED BOOKING AND 
12 
SIMILAR DISCOUNTED FARE; 
13 
vi. ON THE UTILIZATION OF SERVICES IN HOTELS AND 
14 
SIMILAR 
LODGING 
ESTABLISHMENTS, 
RESTAURANTS 
AND 
15 
RECREATION CENTERS; AND 
16 
vii. ON ADMISSION FEES CHARGED BY THEATERS, CINEMA 
17 
HOUSES AND CONCERT HALLS, CIRCUSES, CARNIVALS AND 
18 
OTHER 
SIMILAR 
PLACES 
OF 
CULTURE, 
LEISURE 
AND 
19 
AMUSEMENT. 
20 
. (b) Exemption from the payment of individual income taxes OF SENIOR 
21 
CITIZENS WHO ARE CONSIDERED TO BE MINIMUM WAGE EARNERS IN 
22 
ACCORDANCE WITH REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9504; 
23 
(c) Exemption from training fees for socio-economic programs; 
24 
(d) Free medical and dental service, diagnostic and laboratory fees such as, but 
25 
not limited to x-rays, computerized tomography scans and blood tests, in all 
26 
government facilities, subject to the guidelines to be issued by the Department of 
27 
Health in coordination with the Philippines' Health Insurance Corporation 
28 
(PHILHEAL TH); 
29 
(E) THE. DOH SHALL ADMINISTER FREE .VACCINATION AGAINST THE 
30 
INfLUENZA VIRUS AND PNEUMOCOCCAL DISEASE FOR INDIGENT 
31 
SENIOR CITIZEN PATIENTS; 
32 
(f) Educational assistance to senior citizens to pursue post secondary, tertiary, 
33 
post tertiary, as well as vocational or technical education in both public and 
34 
private schools through provision of scholarship, grant, financial aid, subsidies 
35 
and other incentives to qualified senior citizens, including support for books, 
36 
learning materials, and uniform allowance, to the extent feasible: Provided, That 
37 
senior citizen shall meet minimum admission requirements; 
4 


(g) To the extent practicable and feasible, the continuance of the same benefits 
o 
2 
and privileges given by the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), 
3 
Social Security System (SSS) and Pag-IBIG, as the case may be, as are enjoyed 
4 
by those in actual service; 
5 
(h) Retirement benefits of retirees from both the government and private sector 
6 
shall be regularly reviewed to ensure their continuing responsiveness and 
7 
sustainability, and to the extent practicable and feasible, shall be upgraded to be 
8 
at par with the current scale enjoyed by those in actual service; 
9 
(i) To the extent possible, the government may grant special discounts in special 
10 
programs for senior citizens on purchase of basic commodities, subject to the 
11 
guidelines to be issued for the purpose by the Department of Trade and Industry 
12 
(DTI) and the Department of Agriculture (DA); . 
13 
U) Provision of express lanes for senior citizens in all commercial and 
14 
government establishments, in the absence thereof, priority shall be given to 
15 
them; 
16 
(K) DEATH BENEFIT ASSISTANCE OF A MINIMUM OF TWO THOUSAND 
17 
PESOS (P2,OOO.OO) SHALL BE GIVEN TO THE NEAREST SURVIVING 
18 
RELATIVE OF A DECEASED ,SENIOR CITIZ~N WHICH AMOUNT SHALL BE 
19 
SUBJECT TO ADJUSTMENTS DUE TO INFLATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH 
20 
THE GUIDELINES TO BE ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL 
21 
WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT (DSWD). 
22 
In the availment of the privileges mentioned above, the senior citizen, OR 
23 
HIS! HER DULY AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE AS MAY BE PROVIDED 
24 
IN THE IMPLEMENTING RULES AND REGULATIONS, may submit as proof of 
25 
his entitlement thereto any of the following: 
26 
a. an identification card issued by the city or municipality mayor of the 
27 
barangay captain of the place the senior citizen resides; 
28 
b, the passport of the senior citizen concerned; and 
29 
c. other documents that establish that the senior citizen is a citizen of the 
30 
Republic and is at least sixty (60) years of age AS FURTHER 
31 
PROVIDED IN THE IMPLEMENTING RULES AND REGULATIONS. 
32 
IN THE PURCHASE OF GOODS AND SERVICES WHICH ARE ON 
33 
PROMOTIONAL DISCOUNT, THE SENIOR CITIZEN CAN AVAIL OF THE 
34 
PROMOTIONAL DISCOUNT OR THE DISCOUNT PROVIDED HEREIN, 
35 
WHICHEVER MAY BE HIGHER. 
36 
The establishment may claim the discounts granted under subsection (a) 
37 
of this section as tax deduction based on the cost of the goods sold or services 
38 
rendered: Provided, That the cost of discount shall be allowed as deduction from 
5 


1 
gross income for the same taxable year tlie discount is granted: Provided, 
2 
further, That the total amount of the claimed tax deduction net of VAT, if 
3 
applicable, shall be included i~ their gross sales receipts for tax purposes and 
4 
subject to proper documentation and to the provisions of the National Internal 
5 
Revenue Code (NIRC), as amended. 
G 
7 
SEC 5. Section 5 of the same Act, as amended, is hereby further amended as 
8 
follows: 
9 
"SEC. 5. Government Assistance. - The Government shall provide the 
10 
following: 
11 
(a) Employment 
12 
Senior citizens who have the capacity and desire to work, or be reemployed, 
13 
shall be provided information and matching services to enable them to be 
14 
productive members of society. Terms of employment shall conform with the 
15 
provisions of the Labor Code, as amended, and other laws, rules and 
16 
regulations. 
17 
Private entities that will employ senior citizens as employees upon effectivity 
18 
of this Act, shall be entitled to an additional deduction from their gross income, 
19 
equivalent to fifteen percent (15%) of the total amount paid as salaries and 
20 
wages to senior citizens subject to the provision of Section 34 of the National 
21 
Revenue Code, as amended: Provided, however, that such employment shall 
22 
continue for a period of at least six (6) months; Provided, further, that the annual 
23 
income of the senior citizens does not exceed the poverty level as determined 
24 
by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) for that year. 
25 
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), in coordination with 
26 
other government agencies such as, but not limited to, the Technology and 
27 
Livelihood Resource Center (TLRC) and the Department of Trade and Industry 
28 
(DTI), shall assess, design and implement training programs that will provide 
29 
skills and welfare or livelihood :,\upport for senior citizens. 
30 
(b) Education 
31 
The Department of Education (DepEd), Technical Education and Skills 
32 
Development Authority (TESDA) and Commission on Higher Education (CHED), 
33 
in consultation with Non- Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and People's 
34 
Organizations (POs) for senior citizens, shall institute a program that will ensure 
35 
access to formal and non-formal education. 
36 
(c) Health 
37 
The Department of Health (DOH), in coordination with Local Government 
38 
Units 
(LGUs), 
Non-
Governmental Organizations (NGOs) 
and 
People's 
6 


Organizations (POs) for senior citizens, shall institute a national health program 
2 
and shall provide an integrated health service for senior citizens. It shall train 
3 
community-based health workers among senior citizens and health personnel to 
4 
specialize in the geriatric care health problems of senior citizens. 
5 
THE NATIONAL HEALTH PROGRAM FOR SENIOR CITIZENS SHALL, 
6 
AMONG OTHERS, BE HARMONIZED WITH THE NATIONAL PREVENTION 
7 
OF BLINDNESS PROGRAM OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH. 
8 
THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, THERE SHALL BE ESTABLISHED A 
9 
"SENIOR CITIZENS WARD" IN EVERY GOVERNMENT HOSPITAl. 
THIS 
10 
GERIATRIC WARD SHALL BE FOR THE EXCLUSIVE USE OF SENIOR 
11 
CITIZENS WHO ARE IN NEED OF HOSPITAL CONFINEMENT BY REASON 
12 
OF THEIR HEALTH CONDITIONS. 
HOWEVER, WHEN URGENCY OF 
13 
PUBLIC NECESSITY OR EMERGENCY PURPOSES SO REQUIRE, SUCH 
14 
GERIATRIC WARD MAY BE USED FOR EMERGENCY PURPOSES, AFTER 
15 
WHICH, SUCH "SENIOR CITIZENS WARD" SHALL BE REVERTED TO ITS 
16 
NATURE AS GERIATRIC WARD. 
17 
(d) Social Services 
18 
The Department of Social Welfare. and Development (DSWD), in 
19 
cooperation with the Office of the Senior Citizen Affairs (OSCA) and the Local 
20 
Government Units (LGUs), Non- Governmi3ntal Organizations (NGOs) and 
21 
People's Organizations (POs) for senior citizens, shall develop and implement 
22 
programs on social service for senior citizens, the components of which are: 
23 
1) "self and social enhancement services" which provide senior citizens 
24 
opportunities for socializing, organizing, creative expression, and improvement of 
25 
self; 
26 
2) "after care and follow- up services" which provide senior citizens who 
27 
are discharged from the homel institutions for the aged, especially those who 
28 
have problems of reintegration with family and community, wherein both the 
29 
senior citizens and their families are provided with counseling; 
30 
3) "neighborhood support services" wherein the community! family 
31 
members provide care giving services to their frail, sick or bed-ridden senior 
32 
citizens; and 
33 
4) "substitute family care" in the form of residential care! group home for 
34 
the abandoned, neglected, unattached or homeless senior citizens and those 
3S 
incapable of self- care. 
36 
At least fifty per cent (50%) discount shall be granted on the consumption 
37 
of electricity, water and telephone by the senior citizens center and residential 
38 
care! group homes that are GOVERNMENT-RUN OR non- stock, non- profit 
7 


domestic corporation organized· and operated PRIMARILY for the purpose of 
2 
promoting the well- being of abandoned, neglected, unattached, or homeless 
3 
senior citizens, subject to the guidelines formulated by the DSWD. 
4 
(e) Housing 
5 
The national government shall include in its national shelter program the 
6 
special housing needs of senior citizens, such as establishment of housing units 
7 
for the elderly. 
8 
(f) Access to Public Transport 
9 
The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) shall 
10 
develop a program to assist senior citizens to fully gain access to public transport 
11 
facilities. 
12 
(g) Incentive for Foster Care 
13 
The 
government 
shall 
provide 
'incentives 
to 
individual 
or 
14 
nongovernmental 
institution 
caring 
for, 
establishing 
homes, 
residential 
15 
communities or retirement villages solely for senior citizens, as follows: 
16 
1) Realty tax holiday for the first five (5) years starting from the first year 
17 
of operation; and 
18 
2) Priority in the construction or maintenance of provincial or municipal 
19 
roads leading to the aforesaid home, residential community or 
20 
retirement village. 
21 
(H) ADDITIONAL GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE 
22 
1) SOCIAL PENSION 
23 
INDIGENT SENIOR CIT-IZENS IDENTIFIED BY THE DSWD SHALL BE 
24 
ENTITLED TO A MONTHLY STIPEND AMOUNTING TO ONE THOUSAND 
25 
FIVE HUNDRED PESOS (P1,500) TO AUGMENT THE DAILY SUBSISTENCE 
26 
AND OTHER MEDICAL NEEDS OF SENIOR CITIZENS. 
27 
FOR PURPOSE HEREOF, "INDIGENT SENIOR CITIZEN" SHALL 
28 
REFER TO ANY SENIOR CITIZEN WHO IS EITHER FRAIL, SICKLY, OR WITH 
29 
DISABILITY AND WITHOUT A PERMANENT SOURCE OF 
INCOME, 
30 
COMPENSATION, PENSION OR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FROM HIS 
31 
RELATIVES TO SUPPORT HIS BASIC NEEDS, AS DETERMINED BY THE 
32 
DSWD. 
33 
THE DSWD, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE MEMBERS OF THE 
34 
NATIONAL MONITORING AND COORDINATING BOARD AND OTHER 
35 
CONCERNED GOVERNMENT AND NON-GOVERNMENT AGENCIES SHALL 
36 
DEVELOP 
THE 
APPROPRIATE 
IMPLEIVJENTING 
GUIDELINES 
FOR 
37 
PURPOSES OF DETERMINING WHO THE QUALIFIED BENEFICIARIES 
38 
SHALL BE FOR THESE SERVICES. 
8 


2) MANDATORY PHILHEALTH COVERAGE. 
2 
ALL INDIGENT SENIOR CITIZENS SHALL BE COVERED BY THE 
3 
NATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM OF PHILHEALTH. THE LOCAL 
4 
GOVERNMENT UNITS CONCERNED WHERE THE INDIGENT SENIOR 
5 
CITIZENS RESIDE SHALL ALLOCATE THE NECESSARY FUNDS TO 
6 
ENSURE 
THAT 
THEIR 
CONSTITUENTS 
WILL 
BE 
ENROLLED, 
IN 
7 
ACCORDANCE WITH THE PERTINENT LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
8 
3) SOCIAL SAFETY NETS 
9 
SOCIAL SAFETY NETS INTENDED TO CUSHION THE EFFECTS OF 
10 
ECONOMIC 
SHOCKS, 
DISASTERS 
AND 
CALAMITIES 
SHALL 
BE 
11 
AVAILABLE FOR SENIOR CITIZENS. FUNDING FOR THE PROVISION OF 
12 
SOCIAL 
SAFETY ASSISTANCE 
SHALL BE 
SOURCED 
FROM 
THE 
13 
DISASTER! CALAMITY FUNDS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS WHERE 
14 
THE 
SENIOR 
CITIZENS 
ARE 
RESIDING 
AT 
THE 
TIME 
OF 
THE 
15 
OCCURRENCE OF THE EVENT. THE DSWD SHALL ISSUE GUIDELINES 
16 
FOR THESE SERVICES WHICH SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO, 
17 
FOOD AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR HOUSING, MEDICINES, AND 
18 
OTHER ESSENTIALS. 
19 
20 
SEC. 6. Section 6 of the same Act, as amended, is hereby further amended as 
21 
follows: 
22 
"SEC. 6. The Office for Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) - There shall be 
23 
established in all cities and municipalities an OSCA to be headed by a senior 
24 
citizen who shall be appointed by the mayor for a'term of three (3) years without 
25 
reappointment BUT WITHOUT PREJUDICE TO AN EXTENSION IF EXIGENCY 
26 
SO REQUIRES. SAID APPOINTEE SHALL BE CHOSEN from a list of three (3) 
27 
nominees AS RECOMMENDED BY A GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF SENIOR 
28 
CITIZENS ORGANIZATION IN THE CITY OR MUNICIPALITY. 
29 
THE OSCA HEAD SHALL BE APPOINTED TO SERVE THE INTEREST 
30 
OF SENIOR CITIZENS AND SHALL NOT BE REMOVED OR REPLACED 
31 
EXCEPT FOR REASONS· OF DEATH, PERMANENT DISABILITY, OR 
32 
INEFFECTIVE PERFORMANCE OF HIS DUTIES TO THE DETRIMENT OF 
33 
FELLOW SENIOR CITIZENS. 
34 
THE 
OSCA 
HEAD ,SHALL 
BE 
ENTITLED 
TO 
RECEIVE 
AN 
35 
HONORARIUM OF AN AMOUNT AT LEAST EQUIVALENT TO SALARY 
36 
GRADE 10 TO BE APPROVED BY THE LGU CONCERNED. 
9 


The head of the OSCA shall be assisted by the City Social Welfare and 
2 
Development Officer or by the municipal social and development officer, in 
3 
coordination with the Social Welfare and Development Office. 
4 
THE OFFICE OF THE MAYOR SHALL EXERCISE SUPERVISION 
5 
OVER THE OSCA RELATIVE TO 
THEIR PLANS, ACTIVITIES 
AND 
6 
PROGRAMS FOR SENIOR CITIZENS. THE OSCA SHALL WORK TOGETHER 
7 
AND ESTABLISH LINKAGES WITH ACCREDITED NGOS, POS AND THE 
8 
BARANGAYS IN THEIR RESPECTIVE AREAS. 
9 
THE OFFICE FOR SENIOR CITIZENS AFFAIRS SHALL HAVE THE 
10 
FOLLOWING FUNCTIONS: 
11 
(A) TO PLAN, IMPLEMENT AND MONITORYEARL Y WORK PROGRAMS IN 
12 
PURSUANCE OF THE OBJECTIVES OF THIS.ACT; 
13 
(B) TO DRAW UP A LIST OF AVAILABLE AND REQUIRED SERVICES 
14 
WHICH CAN BE PROVIDED BY THE SENIOR,CITIZENS; 
15 
(C) TO MAINTAIN AND REGULARLY UPDATE ON A QUARTERLY BASIS 
16 
THE LIST OF SENIOR CITIZENS AND TO ISSUE NATIONALLY UNIFORM 
17 
INDIVIDUAL IDENTIFICATION CARDS, FREE OF CHARGE, WHICH SHALL 
18 
BE VALID ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTRY; 
19 
(D) TO SERVICE AS A GENERAL INFORMATION AND LIAISON CENTER TO 
20 
SERVE THE NEEDS OF THE SENIOR CITIZENS; 
21 
(E) TO MONITOR COMPLIANCE OF THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT 
22 
PARTICULARLY THE GRANT OF SPECIAL DISCOUNTS AND PRIVILEGES 
23 
TO SENIOR CITIZENS; 
24 
(F) TO REPORT TO THE MAYOR, ESTABLISHMENTS FOUND VIOLATING 
25 
ANY PROVISION OF THIS ACT; AND 
26 
(G) TO ASSIST THE SENIOR CITIZENS IN FILING COMPLAINTS OR 
27 
CHARGES AGAINST ANY ESTABLISHMENT, INSTITUTION, OR AGENCY 
28 
REFUSING TO COMPLY WITH THE PRIVILEGES UNDER THIS ACT BEFORE 
29 
THE 
DEPARTMENT OF 
JUSTICE OR THE PROVINCIAL, CITY OR 
30 
MUNICIPAL TRIAL COURT," 
31 
32 
SEC. 7. Section 10 of the same Act, as amended, is hereby further amended to 
33 
read as follows: 
34 
"SEC. 10.- Penallies- Any person who violates any provision of this Act 
35 
shall suffer the following penalties: 
36 
(1) For the first violation, a fine of not less than Fifty thousand pesos 
37 
(P50,000.00) but not exceeding One hundred thousand pesos (Pi 00,000.00) and 
10 


imprisonment of not less than six (6) months but not more than two (2) years; 
2 
and 
3 
(2) For any subsequent violation, a fine of not .less than One hundred thousand 
4 
pesos (Pi 00,000.00) but not exceeding Two hundred thousand pesos 
" 
5 
(P200,OOO.OO) and imprisonment of not less than two (2) years but not more than 
6 
six (6) years. 
7 
ANY PERSON WHO ABUSES THE PRIVILEGES GRANTED HEREIN 
8 
SHALL BE PUNISHED WITH A FINE OF NOT LESS THAN FIVE THOUSAND 
9 
PESOS (P5,OOO.OO) BUT NOT MORE THAN FIFTY THOUSAND PESOS 
10 
(P50,OOO.OO), AND IMPRISONMENT OF NOT LESS THAN SIX (6) MONTHS. 
11 
If the offender is a corporation, organization or any similar entity, the 
12 
officials thereof directly involved shall be liable therefore; PROVIDED, THAT 
13 
THE OWNER, MANAGER AND/OR EMPLOYEE OF ANY ESTABLISHMENT 
14 
WHO REFUSES TO HONOR THE SENIOR CITIZEN CARD ISSUED BY THE 
15 
GOVERNMENT SHALL, IF FOUND GUILTY, BE PUNISHED WITH A FINE OF 
16 
NOT LESS THAN TEN THOUSAND PESOS (Pi0,OOO) NOR MORE THAN 
17 
FIFTY THOUSAND PESOS (P50,OOO) OR IMPRISONMENT OF NOT LESS 
18 
THAN ONE (1) MONTH NOR MORE THAN SIX (6) MONTHS OR BOTH SUCH 
19 
FINE AND IMPRISONMENT AT THE DISCRETION OF THE COURT. THE 
20 
ESTABLISHMENT FOUND GUILTY UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT 
21 
SHALL PAY DAMAGES AND REIMBURSE THE COST OF LITIGATION 
22 
INCURRED BY THE OFFENDED SENIOR CITIZEN. 
23 
IF THE OFFENDER IS AN ALIEN OR A FOREIGNER, HE SHALL BE 
24 
DEPORTED IMMEDIATELY AFTER SERVICE OF SENTENCE WITHOUT 
25 
FURTHER DEPORTATION PROCEEDINGS. 
26 
UPON FILING OF AN APPROPRIATE COMPLAINT, AND AFTER DUE 
27 
NOTICE AND HEARING, THE PROPER AUTHORITIES MAY ALSO CAUSE 
28 
THE CANCELLATION OR REVOCATION OF THE BUSINESS PERMIT, 
29 
PERMIT TO OPERATE, FRANCHISE AND :OTHER SIMILAR PRIVILEGES 
30 
GRANTED TO ANY BUSINE;SS ENTITY THAT FAILS TO ABIDE BY THE 
31 
PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT. 
.. 
32 
SEC. 8. Section 11 of the same Act, as amended, is hereby further amended as 
33 
follows: 
34 
"SEC. 11. Monitoring and Coordinating Mechanism.- A monitoring and 
35 
coordinating mechanism shall be established to be chaired by the DSWD, with 
36 
the assistance of the DEPARTMENT OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY (DTI), 
37 
Department of Justice (DOJ), Department of Health (DOH), Department of 
11 


Interior and 
Local Government (DILG), and five (5) 
accredited 
NGOs 
2 
representing, but not limited to women, urban poor, rural poor and the veterans." 
3 
4 
SEC. 9. 
Responsibility of Municipal and City Mayors. -
It shall be the 
5 
responsibility of the municipal and city mayors to require all establishments 
6 
covered by this Act to prominently display posters, stickers and other notices in 
7 
conspicuous places that will generate public awareness of the rights and 
8 
privileges of senior citizens and to ensure that the provisions of this Act are 
9 
implemented to its fullest. 
10 
11 
SEC. 10. 
Parlnership of the National and Local Government Units. -
The 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
22 
23 
24 
25 
26 
27 
national government and the LGUs' shall explore livelihood opportunities and 
other undertakings to enhance the well-being of senior citizens. 
They shall 
encourage the establishment of grassroots organizations for the elderly in their 
respective territorial jurisdictions. 
SEC. 11. 
Supporl for Nongovernmental Organizations (NGOs). -
NGOs or 
private volunteer organizations· dedicated to the promotion, enhancement and 
support of the welfare of senior citizens are hereby encouraged to become 
partners of government in the implementation of programs and projects for the 
elderly. 
Accordingly, the government shall recognize the vital role of NGOs in 
complementing the government in the delivery of services to senior citizens. It 
shall likewise encourage NGOs for senior citizens to develop innovative service 
models and pilot projects and to assist in the duplication of successful examples 
of these models elsewhere in the country. 
28 
SEC. 12. Implementing Rules and Regulations - Within sixty (60) days from the 
29 
effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of Social Welfare and Development shall 
30 
formulate and adopt amendments to the existing rules and regulations 
31 
implementing Republic Act No. 7432, as amended by Republic Act No. 9257, to 
32 
carry out the objectives of this Act, in consultation with the Department of 
33 
Finance, Department of Tourism, Department of Trade and Industry, Department 
34 
of Labor and Employment, Department of Health, Department of the Interior and 
35 
Local Government, and Department of Transportation and Communications. 
36 
37 
SEC. 13. APPROPRIATIONS. - THE NECESSARY APPROPRIATIONS FOR 
38 
THE OPERATION AND 
MAINTENANCE OF THE OSCA SHALL BE 
12 


• 
APPROPRIATED AND APPROVED BY THE LGUS CONCERNED. 
FOR 
2 
NATIONAL 
GOVERNMENT 
AGENCIES, 
THE 
REQUIREMENTS 
TO 
3 
IMPLEMENT THE PROVISIO.NS OF THIS ACT SHALL BE INCLUDED IN 
4 
THEIR RESPECTIVE BUDGETS: PROVIDED, THAT THE FUNDS TO BE 
5 
USED 
FOR 
THE 
NATIONAL 
HEALTH 'PROGRAM 
AND 
FOR 
THE 
6 
VACCINATION OF SENIOR CITIZENS SHALL BE ADDED TO THE REGULAR 
7 
APPROPRIATIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT· OF HEALTH AS A SEPARATE 
8 
LINE BUDGET. 
9 
.. 
10 
SEC. 14. Repealing Clause.- All laws, executive orders, rules and regulations, or 
11 
any part thereof inconsistent herewith are deemed repealed or modified 
12 
accordingly. 
13 
14 
SEC. 15. Separability Clause.- If any part of provision of this Act shall be 
15 
declared unconstitutional and valid, such declaration shall not invalidate other 
16 
parts thereof, which shall remain in full force and effect. 
17 
18 
SEC. 16. Effectivity. - This Act shall take fifteen (15) days after its complete 
19 
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general 
20 
circulation, whichever, comes earlier. 
13