Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIV!
Quezon City, Metro Manila

li
NINETEENTH CONGRESS \\, «=
First Regular Session Nig

~ 2097

House Bill No.

Introduced by
izens Party-List Representative RODOLFO “OMPONG” M. ORDANES

Senior

AN ACT
GRANTING FREE VACCINATION FOR ALL SENIOR CITIZENS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE
SECTION 4 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7432, AS AMENDED BY REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9257, FURTHER
AMENDED BY REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9994, OTHERWISE KNOWS AS THE “EXPANDED SENIOR
CITIZENS ACT OF 2010,” PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Senior citizens, 60 years old and above, are highly vulnerable due to their weakened immune systems and
pre-existing health conditions.» They have a greater likelihood of acquiring illnesses including pneumonia
and influenza which have symptoms similar to COVID-19. >! Even the elderly who are considered healthy
may still be susceptible to pneumonia and its consequences.” Yet, even with the high risk that attends
non-vaccination of senior citizens, a large majority of the Philippines ten million senior citizens are yet to
be given access to tetanus, diptheria, pertussis, shingles, measles, influenza virus, pneumococcal disease,
and other similarly DOH approved vaccines that were deemed necessary for their protection and

maintenance.

of senior citizens to pay for vaccination,

This lack of access is primarily due to the lack of financial capal
considering that free vaccination is only available to indigent senior citizens. This has led thousands of our
senior citizens’ deaths yearly from diseases that could have avoided and prevented if they were provided

® BMPlus, “Continuing vaccination services play a crucial role in protecting the Filipino elderly.” (25 June 2020)
Business Mirror. Retrieved from: https://businessmirror.com.ph/2020/06/25/continuing-vaccination-services-play-
a-crucial-role-in-protecting-the-filipino-elderly/

id.

2d,


the proper and necessary vaccines. Pneumonia remains to be the second leading cause of death among

senior citizens® even if there is already a vaccine against it.

This constant reality faced by our ten million senior citizens, which can easily be remedied by the
government, is deplorable and requires immediate action, To allow this reality to continue will create an
environment for our senior citizens which runs contrary to the mandate of the 1987 Philippine Constitution
and other relevant laws. Accordingly, the needs of the elderly are directed to be prioritized®* considering
their high vulnerabilities to diseases. Only by providing them a higher degree of protection can our
government stay true to its mandate of social justice?® and uphold their right to life.%6

Thus, this bill seeks to provide all senior citizens with free access to tetanus, diptheria, pertussis, shingles,
measles, influenza virus, pneumococcal disease, and other similarly DOH approved vaccines that it deems
necessary for the protection and maintenance of senior citizens in the Philippines.

In view of this, the passage of the bill is sought.

RODOLFO “OMP: |. ORDANES,

8 Philippine Country Report. “Community Services for the Elderly in the Philippines: A Collaboration of the
Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Department of Health” (2007). Retrieved from:
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/bunya/kokusaigyomu/asean/asean/kokusai/siryou/di/n19_philippines.pdf

in Article 2, Section 11 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution.

2 article 13, Section 1 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution.

% article 3, Section 1 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution.



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

a, 2097

House Bill No.

Introduced by
Senior Citizens Party-List Representative RODOLFO "OMPONG” M. ORDANES

AN ACT
GRANTING FREE VACCINATION FOR ALL SENIOR CITIZENS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE
SECTION 4 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7432, AS AMENDED BY REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9257, FURTHER
AMENDED BY REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9994, OTHERWISE KNOWS AS THE “EXPANDED SENIOR
CITIZENS ACT OF 2010,” PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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 “Free Immunization for Senior Citizens Act of
2020"

SECTION 2. Section 4 (f) of Republic Act No. 7432, as amended by Republic Act No. 9257, further amended
by Republic Act No. 9994, otherwise known as the "Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010", shall be hereby
further amended to read as follows:

“SEC. 4, Privileges for the Senior Citizens.
The senior citizens shall be entitled to the following:
v0

(f) the DOH shall administer free vaccination against the TETANUS,
DIPHTERIA, PERTUSSIS, SHINGLES, MEASLES, influenza virus,
pneumococcal disease, AND OTHER SIMILAR APPROVED
VACCINATIONS WHICH THE DOH DEEMS NECESSARY FOR THE
PROTECTION AND MAINTENANCE OF ALL senior citizen patients;”

SECTION 4. Appropriations. - The amount needed for the implantation of this Act shall be charged against
the appropriations of the Department of Health ("DOH") in the current and subsequent General
Appropriations Act. Thereafter, the amount needed for the continued implementation of this Act shall be
included in the budget of the concerned departments in the annual General Appropriations.



SECTION 5. Jmplementing Rules and Regulations. ~ Within six ("6") months from the approval of this Act,
the Department of Social Welfare and Development (“DSWD”), DOH, Philippine Health Insurance
Corporation (“PHILHEALTH"), and the National Commission on Senior Citizens ("NCSC"), in coordination
with other implementing agencies, shall formulate rules and guidelines as may be necessary for the proper
implementation and enforcement of this Act.

SECTION 6. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, or rules and regulations contrary to or
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly.
Furthermore, if any provision of this Act is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the other provisions not
affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.

SECTION 7. Effectivity Clause, - This Act shall take effect fifteen (*15") days after its publication in the
Official Gazette or two ("2") newspapers of the general circulation.

Approved.