EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
SENATE 
S. B. No. 1517
F
-ft
2020
Introduced by SEN. WIN GATCHALIAN
AN ACT
PROVIDING SENIOR CITIZENS FREE MOVIE ACCESS TO ALL MOVIE 
THEATERS NATIONWIDE AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Our senior citizens are the repository of the country’s history and a 
living testimony of our people’s legacy. In recognition of their value, it is 
proper for the government to provide measures that will enable senior 
citizens to enjoy their twilight years.
In the Philippines, senior citizens as defined under Republic Act (RA) 
No. 9994, otherwise known as the “Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010”, 
are those aged 60 years or over. Based on the 2015 Census of Population 
and Housing conducted by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), there 
are 7,548,769 senior citizens in the Philippines, or 7.5% of the total 
population. The PSA projected that the share of senior citizens to total 
population will increase to 11.4% by 2030, and to 15.9% by 2045.1 
Moreover, 42.1% of the senior citizens population in 2015 were categorized
1 Celia M. Reyes, Arkin A. Arboneda, and Ronina D. Asis, Silver Linings for the Elderly in 
the Philippines: Policies and Programs for Senior Citizens, September 2019, p.4. 
https://pidswebs.pids.gov.ph/CDN/PUBLICAT10NS/pidsdpsl909.pdf. Accessed on April 
21, 2020.


as gainful workers, 22.3% as pensioners, retired, and disabled, 20.8% as 
housekeepers, and 14.8% as dependents.2
With the increasing number of senior citizens in the country and the 
decline in their productive capacity that exposes them to various 
vulnerabilities, the State must guarantee that this sector is not condemned 
to oblivion. The government must be ready to respond appropriately to the 
unique challenges and demands they encounter. Since the adoption of the 
1987 Philippine Constitution, several laws have been passed promoting and 
upholding the rights of our senior citizens, such as: RA No. 7432 or “An Act 
to Maximize the Contribution of Senior Citizens to Nation-building”; RA No. 
9994 or the “Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010” which further amended 
RA No. 7432 which grants benefits and special privileges to Senior Citizens; 
and RA No. 10868 or the “Centenarian Act of 2016”.
This bill seeks to provide senior citizens greater support in raising and 
developing their artistic and cultural awareness, nourishing their souls, and 
uplifting their spirits in their twilight years. Several local government units 
have already passed ordinances granting the free admission of senior 
citizens to movie theatres, but this privilege is limited and discretionary on 
the part of the LGUs concerned. This proposed measure will make the 
privilege nationwide in scope and mandatory in application.
With our country’s aspiration of ensuring that the well-being, self- 
worth and quality of life of our elderly are maintained, the immediate 
passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
WIN GATCHALIAN
2 Ibid.


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
]
SENATE
1517
S.B. No.
2020
¥
& Wi I
Introduced by SEN. WIN GATCHALIAN
AN ACT
PROVIDING SENIOR CITIZENS FREE MOVIE ACCESS TO ALL MOVIE 
THEATERS NATIONWIDE AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the 
Philippines in Congress assembled:
1 
Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Free Movies for
2 
Senior Citizens Act”.
3
4 
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policies and Objectives. - The 1987 Philippine
5 
Constitution declares as policy of the State the promotion of a just and
6 
dynamic social order that will ensure the prosperity of the nation and free
7 
the people from poverty through policies that provide adequate social
8 
services and an improved quality of life. It further declares under Article XV,
9 
Section 4 that it is the duty of the family to take care of its elderly members
10 
while the State may design programs of social security for them.
11 
Consistent with these constitutional policies, this Act seeks to achieve
12 
the following objectives:


1 
(a) To recognize the rights of senior citizens and their proper place
2 
in society, not only in terms of health care and related services but
3 
also in the improvement of their well-being and quality of life;
4 
(b) To motivate and encourage senior citizens to contribute to
5 
nation-building through the enhancement of their artistic faculties
6 
and exposure to cultural activities;
7 
(c) 
To encourage families and communities to reaffirm the Filipino
8 
tradition of valuing and caring for our senior citizens; and
9 
(d) 
To recognize the important role of the private sector in the
10 
improvement of the welfare of senior citizens and actively seek their
11 
partnership.
12
13 
Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the following
14 
terms and phrases shall apply:
15 
(a) Free Movie Privilege refers to the absolute privilege granted to
16 
senior citizens under this Act. The term “free” shall mean that
17 
fees, charges, and taxes of all kinds shall not be imposed.
18 
(b) 
Movie Theater refers to a theater, cinema or movie house where
19 
films are shown. The commercial operations of this type of
20 
establishment are in the form of selling movie tickets for
21 
purchase of the general public. For purposes of this Act, the
22 
term includes only regular movie theaters, expressly excluding
23 
premium establishments such as 3D, 4D, IMAX, or director's
24 
club theaters and cinemas. The privilege also does not cover
25 
special events such as sponsored movie premiers, pay per view
26 
showing, and other similar movie screenings that cater to
27 
special productions.
28 
(c) 
Senior Citizen refers to any resident citizen of the Philippines at
29 
least sixty (60) years old.
30


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
Sec. 4. Scope and Coverage. - This Act shall apply to all movie 
theaters in the country and may be availed of by all senior citizens 
nationwide.
Sec. 5. Free Movie Privilege; Availment and Non-transferability. - The 
free movie privilege shall be non-transferable and exclusively given to senior 
citizens upon their personal presentation of a duly issued Senior Citizens 
Identification (ID) Card. Allowing another person to use one’s ID shall result 
in the revocation of the free movie privilege under this Act.
Senior citizens shall be entitled once a week to the free movie privilege 
unless the movie theater where they seek admission to has extended the free 
movie privilege more than once a week. Every free movie access ticket shall 
be valid only for a single viewing.
Sec. 6. Local Government Units and Compliance Monitoring of Movie 
Theaters. - Local government units (LGUs) in their respective territorial 
jurisdictions shall ensure the implementation of this Act in movie theaters 
within their localities. Each movie theater shall be required to provide an 
official monitoring sheet where senior citizens shall register and write their 
full names, signatures, and Senior Citizens ID numbers every time they avail 
of the privilege. The LGUs shall require movie theaters to submit such 
monitoring sheets and other relevant reports as proof of compliance.
Sec. 7. Penalty Clause. - Any movie theater operator who fails to 
comply with the provisions of this Act shall be meted a fine of Twenty 
Thousand Pesos (PhP 20,000.00) for every violation.
Sec. 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Department of 
Interior and Local Government, in consultation with the Department of 
Social Welfare and Development and other relevant stakeholders, shall 
promulgate the rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21
Act. The implementing rules and regulations issued pursuant to this section 
shall take effect thirty (30) days after its publication in a newspaper of 
general circulation.
Sec. 9. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the implementation 
of this Act shall be charged against those authorized in the current 
appropriations of the LGUs. Thereafter, the amount necessary for its 
continued implementation shall be included in the General Appropriations 
Act.
Sec. 10. Separability Clause. - If any part, section or provision of this 
Act is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the other parts thereof not 
affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect.
Sec. 11. Repealing Clause. - All laws, acts, presidential decrees, 
executive orders, administrative orders, rules and regulations, or parts 
thereof inconsistent with or contrary to the provisions of this Act are hereby 
modified, amended or repealed accordingly.
Sec. 12. Effectiuity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,