Republic of the Philippines

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
Seventeenth Congress
Third Regular Session

House Bill No: 8593

Introduced by HON. MERCEDES C. CAGAS

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The legal benefits accruing to our senior citizens by virtue of the amendatory Senior
Citizens Act of 2003 are already ineffective, if not totally worthless. With the ever increasing
prices commodities, basic services and day to day expenditures confronting our lives today, the
law is rendered no longer germane to the genuine interests upon which it was made. The
apparent benefits or advantages extended by the law are surprisingly dismal under the present
circumstances. Contemptible, as in the metaphor, the amount saved from the discounts may
just barely be enough to account for a piteous tricycle fare, nothing more.

The role of the elders in nation building has been regarded highest constitutional
affirmation, and should not be disregarded by the government. Their participation in our society
plays an important role to social development, hence their welfare and the improvement of
there well-being should be one of the utmost concerns.

Mindfulness should be had that they, once upon a time. had been in the core of frontlines
molding and forming the then allegorically portrayed era called future; which is the period we
now call the present. The blessings given by the present-day setting would not be as promising
and realizing were it not for the efforts made by our elders during their times. Thus, itis just
but appropriate to give them back what is due them.

In view of the foregoing, the approval of the attached legislation is strongly
recommended.

RCEDEQ)C. CAGAS



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
Seventeenth Congress
Third Regular Session

House BillNo: 8593

Introduced by HON. MERCEDES C. CAGAS

“AN ACT AMENDING PERTINENT PROVISIONS OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9257
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE EXPANDED SENIOR CITIZENS ACT OF 2003,
RELATIVE TO THE PROVISIONS ON THE CONTRIBUTION TO THE
COMMUNITY, AND PRIVILEGES FOR THE SENIOR CITIZENS, AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES”

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:

SECTION 1. Supplementary Provision. ~ Section three (3) of the said law is hereby
amended, to accommodate an additional ground to read as follows:

“Section 3. Contribution to the Community — Any qualified senior citizen as determined by the
Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) may render his/her services to the community
which shall consists of, but limited to, any of the following:

2x
xXx XXX xxx
and by way of incorporation;

() Be employed as a Learner in industrial occupations and which may be learned through
practical training on the job, whether or not such training is supplemented by theoretical
instruction depending on the terms and conditions of the Leadership Agreement if there
be any.


The circumstances and qualification of these elders as Learners shall be
determined by the Office of Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) in coordination with the
Department of Labor and Employment.

XXX

XXX XXX XXX

SECTION 2. Amendatory Provision — Section 4 of the said law is hereby amended to read
as follows

— The senior citizens shall be entitled to

“Section 4. Privileges for the Senior Citizens
the following:

(a) the grant of thirty percent (30%) discount from all the establishment relative to
the utilization of services in hotels and similar lodging establishment, restaurants
and recreation centers, purchase of medicines in all establishments for the exclusive
use or enjoyment of senior citizens, including funeral and burial services for the
death of senior citizens;

(b) a minimum of thirty percent (30%) discount on admission fees charged by
theater, cinema houses and concert halls, circuses, carnivals, and other similar
places of culture, leisure and amusement for the exclusive use or enjoyment of
senior citizens;

XXX
XXX
XXX XXX XXX

(f) the grant of thirty percent (30%) discount on medical and dental services, and
diagnostic and laboratory fees provided under Section 4
(e) hereof, including professional fees of attending doctors in all private
hospitals, medi facilities and clinics, in accordance with the rules and
regulations to be issued by the Department of Health, in coordination with the
Philippine Health Insurance Corporation;

(g) the grant of thirty percent (30%) discount in fare for domestic air and sea travel
for the exclusive use or enjoyment of senior citizens;

(h) the grant of thirty percent (30%) discount in public railways, skyways and bus
xxx

XXX



XXX XXX XXX

SECTION 3. Repealing Clause - All laws, executive orders, presidential decrees, presidential
proclamations, letter of implementation, rules and regulations or part thereof inconsistent with
the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 4. Effectivity — This Act shall take effect upon its approval fifteen (15) days
following its publication in the Official Gazette or in two newspapers of general circulation in
the Philippines.

Approved.