Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

House Bill NOS2OL

Introduced by HON. FRANCISCO G. DATOL, JR.,
HON. PANTALEON D. ALVAREZ and HON. FELICIANO BELMONTE, JR.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

‘This bill seeks to create a National Senior Citizens Commission that will be
responsible for the effective implementation and monitoring of the objectives of Republic
Act No. 7432 (known as “An Act to Maximize the Contribution of Senior Citizens to Nation
Building, Grant Benefits and Special Privileges and for Other Purposes”), as amended by
Republic Act No. 9257 (known as the "Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2003") and further
amended by Republic Act No. 9994 (known as “Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010”).

While the objectives of the law are quite clearly spelled out in the above laws,
which are: () to establish mechanisms whereby the contributions of the senior citizens are
maximized; (ji) to adopt measures whereby our senior citizens are assisted and appreciated
by the community as a whole; (ii) to establish a program beneficial to the senior citizens,
their families and the rest of the community they serve; and (jv) to establish community-
based health and rehabilitation programs for senior citizens in every political unit of society,
there is no national agency that is responsible for the over-all implementation of these
objectives.

At present, our senior citizens have to contend with the Office of the Senior
Citizens Affairs (OSCA) which is under the administrative control and supervision of the
local government units. Despite the services of the OSCA, the requirements and needs of
the senior citizens have not been fully served and satisfied. In reality, OSCA currently
functions merely as liaison center for senior citizens, concerned mainly with maintaining a
regular update on the list of senior citizens and issuing individual national identification
cards.

Across local government units, it has been observed that there is a lack of
cohesiveness in terms of services rendered and implementation of these laws by the various
OSCA. There is a marked absence of cases filed for non-compliance of these laws, and an
apparent lack of proper implementation, monitoring, and enforcement. We have heard
‘numerous unfortunate stories of senior citizens whose benefits and special privileges granted
by law were not honored, and their complaints against erring business establishments


remained unacted upon. Likewise, there is a need to preserve and strengthen the integrity of
the identification cards of senior citizens, the only tool which entitles them to the privileges
they have been granted by law.

‘The creation of a single cohesive agency that will address the needs of our senior
citizens, implement and enforce our laws, and monitor compliance for the welfare and
benefit of our more than 10 Million senior citizens throughout the country is of primordial
importance.

‘This bill proposes the creation of a National Senior Citizens Commission that will
act as the specialized agency that will supervise the functions of the OSCA and to strengthen
the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010, which derives its roots under Republic Act No.
7432. For the establishment of the Commission, it is further proposed that the one percent
(1%) of the local government revenues apportioned to the senior citizens by virtue of the
yearly general appropriations budget shall be the re-aligned to form part of the funds thereof.

Immediate consideration and approval of this bill is most earnestly sought.

FRANCISCO G. ce jr. Pi ON D. Z.
fel Norte

Representative Representative
Senior Citizens Party-List First District, Dav:

Ae Le -—_
FELICIANO BELMONTE, JR.

Representative
Fourth District, Quezon City


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS

Second Regular Session

House Bill No. 6254

Introduced by HON. FRANCISCO G. DATOL, JR.,
HON. PANTALEON D. ALVAREZ and HON. FELICIANO BELMONTE, JR.

AN ACT
CREATING THE NATIONAL SENIOR CITIZENS COMMISSION AND
PLACING THE OFFICE OF THE SENIOR CITIZENS AFFAIRS UNDER ITS
CONTROL AND SUPERVISION, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and house of Representatives of the Philippines assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. —This Act shall be known as “The National Senior Citizens
Commission.”

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. — It is the policy of the state to adopt measures
whereby our senior citizens are assisted and appreciated by the community as a whole, to
design a program beneficial to the senior citizens, their families and the rest of the
community they serve; and to establish community-based health and rehabilitation programs
for senior citizens in every political unit of society.

SECTION 3. Creation of National Senior Citizens Commission. - There is hereby created
the NATIONAL SENIOR CITIZENS COMMISSION which shall be under the Office of
the President. It will have its principal office within the national capital region and other
branches to be established in coordination with appropriate government agencies.

SECTION 4. Composition, - ‘The Commission shall be composed of a Chairman and
six (6) Commissioners. ‘The Chairman shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the
Commission. ‘The Commission shall act as a collegial body.

‘The six (6) Commissioners shall represent and be apportioned to the
different geographical regions of the Philippines, as follows: one for Northen Luzon, one
for Central & Souther Luzon, one for MIMAROPA and Western Visayas, one for Central
and Eastern Visayas, one for Western Mindanao, and one for Central and Northern
Mindanao. Each Commissioner shall have an office within their respective area of
jurisdiction. ‘The staffing, budgeting and expenses for cach region shall be planned and
decided by the Commission.


SECTION 5. Term of Office. - ‘The Chairman and the six (6) Commissioners shall be
appointed by the President for a period of seven (7) years. In case of death, permanent
disability, resignation of any commissioner, the new appointee shall only serve the unexpired
term of the said commissioner.

SECTION 6. Qualifications. - The members of the Commission must be:

a) a senior citizen of the Philippines as defined under the Expanded Senior
Citizens Act at the time of his appointment;

b) of good moral character;

¢) not be convicted by final judgment, of a crime involving
moral turpitude;

4) recommended by a general assembly of senior citizens
organizations which has been in existence for at least
three (3) years;

€) amember of said senior citizen organization for at
least three (3) years;

SECTION 7. Functions. - The Commission shall have the following functions:

a) to assure the implementation of government laws, policies and programs for
the senior citizens;

b) to review and make comprehensive studies on existing laws, policies and
programs of the government pertaining to senior citizens and recommend appropriate
actions thereon to Congress and the President;

) to supervise, manage, control the Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs in the
respective areas;

4) to appoint officers and other personnel of the Commission and fix their
compensation, allowances and other emoluments in accordance with applicable laws, rules
and regulations;

6) to provide information campaign for dissemination of the rights and privileges
of senior citizens;

£) to hear, decide cases, complaints filed by senior citizens, and to impose penalties
and sanctions in accordance with the applicable laws;

g) To establish programs for the protection, moral boosting, improvement and
development of senior citizens;

h) to do and perform such other actions and functions as may be authorized
or directed by the President;


SECTION 8. Control and Supervision. - All existing Offices of the Senior Citizens
Affairs (OSCA) established under R.A. No. 9994 shall be under the direct control and over-
all supervision by the Provincial Director of the Commission. However, the local
government units shall continue to have administrative supervision of their respective
OSCA.

SECTION 9. Organizational Structure. - Each province shall be headed by Senior
Citizen Provincial Director which shall hold office within the province at the pleasure of the
Commission. ‘The duties and functions of the Senior Citizen Provincial Director shall be
defined and issued by the Commission.

SECTION 10. Meeting, - The Commission shall meet, at least, once a month, to
tackle issues of national importance and make a review and recommendation of all its
activities.

SECTION 11. Budget. - To effectuate the foregoing provisions, the one percent
(1%) of the local government revenues apportioned to the senior citizens by virtue of the
yearly general appropriations budget shall be re-aligned to form part of the funds of the
Commission. Appropriation of departments and agencies of the Government which
provide budget for senior citizens shall also be re-aligned to the coffer of the Commission.

SECTION 12. Repealing Clause. - All provisions of existing laws, orders, decrees,
rules and regulations inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed.

SECTION 13. Effectitity, - This Act shall take effect two (2) weeks after its
publication in newspaper of general circulation or in the Official Gazette.

Approved,