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Republic of the Philippines fey
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES [> RECEIVED
Quezon City = pATE_O Au
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‘TWENTIETH CONGRESS BY
First Regular Session nm

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House Bill No._2923 x

Introduced by Rep. FERDINAND ALEXANDER A. MARCOS
1* District, Ilocos Norte

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The current system that requires the use of physical purchase booklets has proven
to be burdensome and inefficient for many of our elderly.

In securing their necessities, senior citizens sometimes forget to bring their
purchase booklets, thereby preventing them from availing of the legislated discounts.
There are also instances when, due to confusion or oversight, they bring the wrong
booklet; for example, presenting the one for groceries when purchasing medicines.
Further, it is a common experience for our elderly to be encumbered by the process of
requesting a new booklet from the relevant government agency whenever their
existing booklet is filled up. To address these issues, the National Commission of
Senior Citizens (NCSC) itself has proposed the discontinuance of the physical booklet
system and the establishment of a Centralized Database for Senior Citizens.

This proposed measure secks to modernize and streamline the process by
establishing a Centralized Database for Senior Citizens, to be managed by the
National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC) in coordination with the Department
of Information and Communications Technology (DICT). The database will digitally
capture and store relevant transaction details, such as the nature, quantity, and price of
purchased goods or medicines, as well as the establishment and date of purchase. This
will serve as the official record in lieu of the physical purchase booklet. To ensure the
security and confidentiality of the data, the bill imposes strict penalties for
unauthorized access, disclosure, or tampering with the database. These include
imprisonment and/or fines, in accordance with existing laws on data privacy and
public accountability.

This bill affirms the State’s duty to promote the welfare of senior citizens by
harnessing technology to establish a more efficient, accessible, and secure system for
the delivery of statutory benefits. It safeguards not only the rights of the elderly but
also the integrity and effectiveness of government social programs. It is imperative to
discontinue the implementation of the purchase slip booklet as a mandatory
requirement for the availment of the senior citizen’s discount in order to lessen the
burden on our elderly persons who wish to avail of the privileges granted them by
law.

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For the foregoing reasons, the early approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

FERDINAND ALEXANDER A. MARCOS


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 2 923

Introduced by Rep. FERDINAND ALEXANDER A. MARCOS
1" District, Ilocos Norte

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A CENTRALIZED DATABASE FOR SENIOR CITIZENS
AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. This Act shall be known as the "Senior Citizens
Database Act".

SEC. 2. Establishment of a Centralized Database for Senior Citizens. A
centralized database for senior citizens shall be established, maintained and managed
by the National Commission of Senior Citizens (Commission) in cooperation with the
Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT). The database,
which shall be accessible to merchants, shall be used to digitally record the kind of
medicine or basic or essential commodities purchased, the quantity and price, the date
of the transaction, and the establishment where the same has been purchased. The
database shall be utilized in lieu of the purchase slip booklet, the usage of which shall
be discontinued as a mandatory requirement for the availment of the senior citizens
discount.

The database and any information contained therein shall only be accessed by
authorized personnel in line with the purpose of this Act.

SEC. 3. Penalty for Violation of the Confidentiality or Integrity of the Records
in the Database. Any person who, by virtue of employment or official position, shall
knowingly and willfully commits any of the following acts shall suffer the penalty of
four (4) years and one (1) day of imprisonment or a fine not more than Three Hundred
Thousand Pesos (Php300,000.00) or both, at the discretion of the court:

a) unauthorized access to and improper use of any information contained in
the database system; or

b) disclosure in any manner of any information found or contained in the
database to any person or agency not legally entitled to receive it to the
prejudice and detriment of the public or person from whom the said
information was taken; or


©) tampering, altering or making any false entry in the database, including
destroying, concealing, removing or otherwise impairing the verity or
availability of the database without authority.

SEC. 4. Implementing Rules and Regulations. Within sixty (60) days from the
effectivity of this Act, the Commission, in coordination with the DICT, shall
promulgate the rules and regulations to effectively implement the provisions of this
Act.

SEC. 5. Appropriations. The amount necessary for the initial implementation of
this Act shall be taken from the current year’s appropriation of the Commission.
Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for the continued implementation of this
‘Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 6. Repealing Clause. All existing laws, orders, rules and regulations or
parts thereof deemed inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed
or modified accordingly.

SEC. 7. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following the

completion of its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general
circulation, whichever comes first.

Approved,