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

Second Regular Session

House Bill No. 4637

Introduced by Rep. EVELIO R. LEONARDIA

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to exempt senior citizens from payment of passenger terminal fees for
air travel and sea transport.

Section 4 Article XV of the 1987 Constitution states that the family has the duty to
care for its elderly members but the State may also do so through just programs of social
security.

To abide with this policy, R.A. No. 7432 otherwise known as. “The Senior Citizen
Act”, R.A. No, 9257 otherwise known as “Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2003”, and R.A.
No. 9994, otherwise known as the "Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010", were enacted to
grant special privileges and benefits to senior citizens. Under the latest amendatory law,
senior citizens are granted a 20% discount on actual and advanced booking transportation
fare for domestic air transport services and sea shipping vessels and the like. Passenger
terminal fees however, are not included. Most if not all domestic airports do not give a 20%
discount on passenger terminal fees for senior citizens. In fact, in a strict interpretation of the
amended law, the Office of Government Corporate Counsel (OGCC) Opinion 86, series of
2011 even declared that the 20% discount accorded to senior citizens under the Expanded
Senior Citizens Act of 2010 is not applicable to passenger terminal fees.

This bill seeks to include passenger terminal fees from the list of discounted fees for
the elderly, a benefit which they deserve. Moreover, its inclusion in the said list can help
bolster tourism all over the country by promoting discounted local travel to senior citizens.

In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

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REP. EVELIO R. LEONARDIA
Lone District, Bacolod City


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

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS

Second Regular Session
House Bil No._ 4697
Oe
Introduced by Rep. EVELIO R. LEONARDIA

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR A TWENTY PERCENT (20%) DISCOUNT ON ALL TERMINAL,
FEES IN AIRPORTS, SEAPORTS AND BUS OR VEHICLE TERMINALS FOR
SENIOR CITIZENS FURTHER AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION 4 (a)
OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7432, AS AMENDED BY REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9994,
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE “EXPANDED SENIOR CITIZENS ACT OF 2010”

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

SECTION 1. Section 4 of Republic Act No. 7432, as amended by Republic Act No,
9994, otherwise known as the "Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010", is hereby further
amended to read as follows:

"SEC. 4. Privileges for the Senior Citizens. -

The senior citizens shall be entitled to the following:

"(@) the grant of twenty percent (20%) discount and exemption from the value -

added tax (VAT), if applicable, on the sale of the following goods and services

from all establishments, for the exclusive use and enjoyment or availment of the

senior citizen

"(1) xxx

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10)_on the terminal fees for all domestic and international air transport

services, and sea transport vessels, bus and vehicular transport services,
and the like.”

SECTION 2. All laws, executive orders, rules and regulations, or any part thereof
inconsistent herewith are deemed repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 3. Should any section or provision of this Act be held unconstitutional or
invalid, the other section or provision not otherwise affected shall remain valid.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the
Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,