14th CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
Second Regular Session 
1 
Introduced by Senator Ramon Bong Revilla, Jr. 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Our senior citizens are a reservoir of experience and expertise, maturity and wisdom 
which our society should properly recognize. They have contributed so much to the laying of the 
foundations upon which the current generation of Filipinos continue to build our nation for the 
fiture. 
Section 11, Article XI11 of the 1987 Constitution provides that, “The State shall adopt an 
integrated and comprehensive approach to health development which shall endeavor to make 
essential goods, health ana other social services available to all the people at affordable cost. 
There shall be priority for the needs of the under-privileged, sick, elderly, disabled, women, and 
children. The State shall endeavor to provide free medical care to paupers.” 
In consonant to this constitutional mandate, and to show the State’s gratitude for our 
senior citizens’ hardship, sacrifices and great contribution without whom, we would not have 
been where we are now, this bill seeks to introduce measures in order to ensure that senior 
citizens f d l y  enjoy the benefits intended for them by the law. 
Republic Act No. 9257 or the “Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2003” was enacted to 
grant benefits and special privileges to the elderly in response to the above-cited constitutional 
mandate. Paragraph (a), Section 4 of this law among others, grants a twenty percent (20%) 
discount to senior citizens, with government-issued senior citizen card, on the purchase of drugs 
and medicines in drug stores, pharmacies, and other business establishments which sell drugs 
and medicines. However, imposition of the twelve percent (12%) Expanded Value Added Tax 
(EVAT) resulted to senior citizens effectively receiving less than half of the (20%) discount and 
diminished the enjoyment of such privileges that the law has afforded to them. This proposed 
measure will level out that existing benefits and privileges, and in effect uphold the intent of the 
law. 
Immediate passage of this bill is highly needed. 


.. 
14th CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
Second Regular Session 
) 
- 
Introduced by Senator Ramon Bong Revilla, Jr. 
~ 
~ 
AN ACT 
AMENDING PARAGRAPH (a), SECTION 4 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9257, 
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE EXPANDED SENIOR CITIZENS ACT OF 2003 
. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. Paragraph (a), Section 4 of Republic Act No. 9257, otherwise known as the 
Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2003, is hereby amended to read as follows: 
"SEC. 4. Privileges for the Senior Citizens. - The senior citizens shall be 
entitled to the following: 
a. the grant of twenty percent (20%) discount from all establishments 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. THE GRANT OF THIRTY TWO PERCENT (32%) DISCOUNT ON 
THE PURCHASE OF DRUGS AND MEDICINES IN DRUG STORES, 
PHARMACIES, AND 
OTHER BUSINESS 
ESTABLISHMENTS 
WHICH SELL DRUGS AND MEDICINES FOR THE EXCLUSIVE 
USE OF SENIOR CkTIZENS; 
c. the grant of twenty percent (20%) discount on funeral and burial services 
for the death of senior citizens; 
x x x': 
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SECTION 2. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof, is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
valid and subsisting. 
SECTION 3. Repealing Clause. - AI1 laws, presidential decrees or issuances, executive 
orders, letters of instruction, administrative orders or rules and regulations, which may be 
inconsistent with this Act shall be deemed repealed, amended or modified accordingly. 
SECTION 4. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following 
its publication in two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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