Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE:
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
Third Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 6340

Introduced by HON. RODEL M. BATOCABE

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Republic Act No. 7432, which was approved and passed on 23 April 1992, otherwise
known as An Act to Maximize the Contribution of Senior Citizens to Nation Building, Grant
Benefits and Special Privileges and for Other Purposes, as amended, is further amended in order
to reduce the senior citizenship age from sixty (60) to fifty-six (56). The rationale behind are the
established facts that at the age of 56, age-related ailments and other physical limitations are
already experienced, thus, benefits and special privileges are but necessary.

In the year 2010, senior citizens made up 6.8% of the total household population in the
country, and considering the proposed amendment of the senior citizen age as indicated in this bill,
an additional of not more than 3 million members will be included from the age group of 56-59
years old, which is equivalent to around 3% of the total household population. The appropriated
funds herein shall be very minimal compared to that of the benefits that shall be enjoyed by the
indicated population herein.

Consequently, the proposed additional members that more than half of which are
considered as heads of household, and those military personnel of the Armed Forces of the
Philippines who are separated from service due to the set mandatory age of retirement of 56, will
be provided with the same benefits and privileges to them as enjoyed by those under the existing
regular retirement system.

In view thereof, the undersigned believes that further amendment of the RA 7432 is in
order to cater to the small number of population that needs such benefits and special privileges as
provided by the law. It is for these reasons that support for and promp) of this bill is
earnestly sought.

. BATOCABE.


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
Third Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 6340

Introduced by HON. RODEL M. BATOCABE

AN ACT TO REDUCE THE SENIOR CITIZEN AGE FROM SIXTY (60) TO FIFTY-SIX (56), FURTHER AMENDING
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 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:

SECTION 1. Section 2 of Republic Act No. 7432, as amended by Republic Act No. 9994, otherwise known
as the “Expanded Seniors Citizen Act of 2010” is hereby further amended to read as follows:

SEC. 2. Definition of Terms. ~ For purposes of this Act, these terms are defined as follows:

“(a) Senior citizen or elderly refers to any resident citizen of the Philippines at least fifty-six (56)
years old;

x x x

SECTION 2. Section 4 of Republic Act No. 7432, as amended by Republic Act No. 9257, otherwise known.
as the “Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2003”, is hereby further amended to read as follows:

SEC. 4. Privileges for the Senior Citizens. - The senior citizens shall be entitled to the following:

Kx x

“(I) death benefit assistance of a minimum of Two thousand pesos (Php2,000.00) shall
be given to the nearest surviving relative of a deceased senior citizen which amount shall be
subject to adjustments due to inflation in accordance with the guidelines to be issued by the
Dswo.

“in the availment of the privileges mentioned above, the senior citizen, or his/her duly
authorized representative, may submit as proof of his/her entitlement there to any of the
following:



SECTION 3. All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders and rules and regulations or part thereof,

“(1) an identification card issued by the Office of the Senior Citizen Affairs (OSCA) of the place
where the senior citizen resides: Provided, That the identification card issued by the particular
OSCA shall be honored nationwide;

“(2) the passport of the senior citizen concerned; and

(3) other documents that establish that the senior citizen is a citizen of the Republic and is at
least fifty-six (56) years of age as further provided in the implementing rules and regulations.

“in the purchase of goods and services which are on promotional discount, the senior citizen can
avail of the promotional discount or the discount provided herein, whichever is higher.

“The establishment may claim the discounts granted under subsections (a) and (c) of this section
as tax deduction based on the cost of the goods sold or services rendered: Provided, That the
cost of the discount shall be allowed as deduction from gross income for the same taxable year
that the discount is granted: Provided, further, That the total amount of the claimed tax
deduction net of VAT, if applicable, shall be included in their gross sales receipts for tax
purposes and shall be subject to proper documentation and to the provisions of the National
Internal Revenue Code (NICR), as amended.”

contrary to, or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 4. Should any provision of this Act be found unconstitutional by a court of law, such provision
shall be severed from the remainder of this Act, and such action shall not affect the enforceability of the
remaining provisions of this Act.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete publication in any two (2)
national newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,