Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPREPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

Fifteenth Congress
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 1861

Introduced by HON. MARC DOUGLAS IV 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 of 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 their well-being should be one of
our utmost concerns.

Mindfulness should be had that they, once upon a time, had been in the
core 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, it is just but appropriate to
give back what is due them

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

a4
MARC DOU! CLASS. CAGAS


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPREPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

Fifteenth Congress
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 1861

Introduced by HON. MARC DOUGLAS IV 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 for Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) may render
his/her services to the community which shall consist of, but not limited to, any
of the following:

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and by way of incorporation;

{@ Be empioyed as a Learner in industrial occupations and which may

be learned through practical training on the job, whether or not such
is supplemented by theoretical instruction depending on the



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

XxX

xx 1x XXX

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

“SECTION 4. Privileges for the Senior Citizens. — The senior citizens shall
be entitled to the following:

(a) the grant of thirty percent (30%) discount from all establishment
relative to the utilization of services in hotels and similar lodging
establishment, restaurants and recreation centers, and 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 theaters, 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, medical 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;

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


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Xxx Xxx Xxx
Section 3. Repealing Clause - All laws, executive orders, presidential decrees,
presidential proclamations, letters of implementation, rules and regulations or

parts 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