Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. _____ 
Introduced by CIBAC Party-List Representative 
Eduardo “Bro. Eddie” C. Villanueva 
AN ACT EXPANDING EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR 
SENIOR CITIZENS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT 
NO. 9994, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE EXPANDED SENIOR 
CITIZENS ACT OF 2010, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Republic Act No. 9994, otherwise known as the Expanded Senior 
Citizens Act of 2010, defines a “senior citizen” or “elderly” as any person 
who is at least sixty (60) years old and above.  
Based on the latest available data from the Philippine Statistics 
Authority’s (PSA)  on total population by age group, as of 2015, there were 
7,548,769 Filipinos aged 60 years old and above, while 4,787,586 
Filipinos are aged 65 years and over, accounting for 7.5% and 4.7% of 
the country’s total population of 100,981,437 persons, respectively.1  
While this number is relatively small compared to the total 
population of the country, previous studies have shown that the 
1 Philippine Statistics Authority National QuickStat – June 2022, available at https://psa.gov.ph/statistics/quickstat/national-
quickstat/all/* (last accessed June 24, 2022). 
July 25, 2022
8:00 am
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Philippines may become an ageing and aged population. Citing the 
projections made by the United Nations Department of Economic and 
Social Affairs (UN DESA), the Philippine Institute for Developmental 
Studies (PIDS) noted that the Philippines will “join the ranks of countries 
with ageing population” by 2032 (i.e., at least 7% of the population is aged 
65 or above) and “eventually become an aged society” by 2069 (i.e., at 
least 14% of the population is aged 65 or above).2 
 
Nonetheless, in 2015, PSA data shows that among the senior 
citizens, 42.1% or 3.17 million are still gainful workers, with ~1.19 million 
as skilled agricultural, forestry, and fishery workers (37.7%), ~499,000 as 
workers engaged in elementary occupations (15.8%), and ~427,000 as 
managers (13.5%).3 
 
Thus, given the studies showing that the Philippines, while still 
currently a young society, may move toward the direction of an ageing 
one, there is a need to provide opportunities for our senior citizens who 
are still able and willing to obtain gainful employment and wish to continue 
to become economically active and productive during their golden years.  
 
Our current policies for the employment of senior citizens are 
Republic Act No. 9994, or the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010, and 
Republic Act No. 10911, or the Anti-Age Discrimination in Employment 
Act. Under the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010, private entities are 
entitled to an additional deduction from their gross income, equivalent to 
fifteen percent (15%) of the total amount paid as salaries and wages to 
senior citizens. Moreover, matching services shall be made available to 
senior citizens to enable them to be productive members of the society, 
with their terms of employment mandated to conform with the provisions 
of the Labor Code of the Philippines, as amended, and other laws, rules 
and regulations. 
 
 
2 Celia M. Reyes, et al., Philippine Institute for Developmental Studies, Silver Linings for the Elderly in the Philippines: Policies 
and Programs for Senior Citizens, available at chrome-
extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://pidswebs.pids.gov.ph/CDN/PUBLICATIONS/pidsdps1909.pdf (last 
accessed June 24, 2022).  
3 Philippine Statistics Authority, Facts on Senior Citizens: Results of the 2015 Census of Population, available at chrome-
extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://psa.gov.ph/system/files/2015%20Fact%20Sheets%20on%20Senior%20C
itizen_pop.pdf?width=950%26height=700%26iframe=true (last accessed June 24, 2022). 


On the other hand, the Anti-Age Discrimination in Employment Act 
aims to promote equal work opportunities by prohibiting arbitrary age 
limitations in job requirements, dismissal, and retirement of employees, 
except when the age limitations fall under the exemptions provided under 
the law.  
To further support and promote equal work opportunities for our 
senior citizens, this bill provides for the following: 
1. Mandates the Department of Labor and Employment, through the
Public Employment Service Offices, to provide matching and
employment facilitation services to senior citizens who have the
capacity and desire to work or be re-employed;
2. Increases the allowable deduction from gross income of private
entities that will employ senior citizens as employees from fifteen
percent (15%) to twenty-five percent (25%) of the total amount
paid as salaries and wages, as well as trainings provided to
senior citizens, in accordance with Section 34 of the National
Internal Revenue Code;
3. Removes the proviso that the annual income of the senior citizen
should not exceed the latest poverty threshold, to encourage
employers to hire senior citizens from all walks of life, as long as
they are able, willing and qualified to do the job;
4. Waiving fees and charges from a senior citizen jobseeker if such
fee or charge is paid in connection with the application for and
the granting of licenses, proofs of identification, clearances,
certificates, or other documents usually required in the course of
employment; and
5. Allowing employers, the flexibility to grant greater benefits or
improve the working conditions and terms of employment of
senior citizens beyond the minimum requirements provided
under applicable laws.


Given the foregoing, this bill will redound to the benefit of millions of 
senior citizens who wish to remain economically active and productive. 
Thus, in line with the State’s policy to take care of the interest and welfare 
of our senior citizens, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly 
sought.  


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. _____ 
Introduced by CIBAC Party-List Representative 
Eduardo “Bro. Eddie” C. Villanueva 
AN ACT EXPANDING EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR 
SENIOR CITIZENS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT 
NO. 9994, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE EXPANDED SENIOR 
CITIZENS ACT OF 2010, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
  Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
1 
Philippines in Congress assembled:
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SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “Senior 
4 
Citizens Employment Incentives Act of 2022.” 
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SECTION 2. Declaration of Policies. – It is the policy of the State 
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to take care of the interest and welfare of senior citizens, including 
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providing them opportunities for gainful employment. For this purpose, the 
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State shall provide incentives to businesses and other private entities that 
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employ senior citizens. 
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SECTION 3. Incentives to Private Firms Employing Senior 
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Citizens. – Section 5 of Republic Act No. 9994, otherwise known as “An 
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Act Granting Additional Benefits and Privileges to Senior Citizens, further 
15 
amending Republic Act No. 7432, as amended, otherwise known as “An 
16 
Act to Maximize the Contribution of Senior Citizens to Nation Building, 
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Grant Benefits and Special Privileges and For Other Purposes,” is hereby 
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amended to read as follows: 
2 
 
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“SEC. 5. Government Assistance. – The government shall 
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provide the following: 
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(a) Employment 
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Senior citizens who have the capacity and desire to work, or 
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be re-employed, shall be provided information and matching 
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services OF AVAILABLE JOB OPPORTUNITIES BY THE 
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT (DOLE), 
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THROUGH THE PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT SERVICE 
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OFFICES, to enable them to be productive members of 
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society. Terms of employment shall conform with the 
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provisions of the Labor Code, as amended, and other laws, 
16 
rules and regulations. 
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Private entities that will employ senior citizens as 
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employees, upon effectivity of this Act, shall be entitled to an 
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additional deduction from their gross income, equivalent to 
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TWENTY-FIVE PERCENT (25%)  of the total amount paid 
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as salaries and wages and trainings provided to senior 
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citizens, subject to the provision of Section 34 of the NIRC, 
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as amended: Provided, however, That such employment 
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shall continue for a period of at least six (6) months. 
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[Provided, further, That the annual income of the senior 
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citizen does not exceed the latest poverty threshold as 
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[determined] PUBLISHED by the [National Statistical 
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Coordination Board (NSCB) of the National Economic and 
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Development Authority (NEDA)] PHILIPPINE STATISTICS 
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AUTHORITY (PSA) for that year.]  
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The [Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)] DOLE, 
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in coordination with other government agencies such as, but 
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not limited to, the [Technology and Livelihood Resource 
36 
Center (TLRC) and the] Technical Education and Skills 
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Development Authority (TESDA) and the Department of 
1 
Trade and Industry, shall assess, design and implement 
2 
training programs that will provide skills and welfare or 
3 
livelihood support for senior citizens.  
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SECTION 4. Waiver of Fees and Charges. – All government 
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agencies and instrumentalities, including government-owned and 
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controlled corporations (GOCCs), local government units (LGUs), and 
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government hospitals shall not collect fees and charges from a senior 
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citizen jobseeker: Provided, That such fee or charge is paid in connection 
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with the application for and the granting of licenses, proofs of 
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identification, clearances, certificates, or other documents usually 
12 
required in the course of employment: Provided, further, That the benefit 
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provided under this Act shall only be availed of once. 
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No fees and other charges shall be collected from senior citizen 
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jobseekers when obtaining the following: 
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(a) Police clearance certificate; 
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(b) National Bureau of Investigation clearance; 
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(c) Barangay Clearance; 
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(d) Medical certificate from a public hospital, provided that fees and 
25 
charges collected for laboratory tests and other medical procedures 
26 
required for the grant of a medical certificate shall not be free of 
27 
charge; 
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(e) Birth Certificate; 
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(f) Marriage Certificate; and 
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(g) Other documentary requirements issued by the government that 
34 
may be required by employers from job applicants.  
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The waiver of fees and charges shall not include those connected 
1 
in connection with an application to take a professional licensure 
2 
examination conducted by the Professional Regulation Commission, 
3 
application for a Philippine passport, authentication and Apostillization of 
4 
documents from the Department of Foreign Affairs, application for a 
5 
Career Service Examination (CSC), and application for a driver’s license 
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from the Land Transportation Office. 
7 
 
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SECTION 5. Interpretation. – Nothing in this Act excludes any 
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private entity from hiring qualified senior citizens for consultancy and other 
10 
types of arrangements, or prevents any employer from initiating or 
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providing greater benefits or improving the working conditions and terms 
12 
of employment of senior citizens beyond the minimum requirements 
13 
provided by applicable laws. 
14 
 
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SECTION 6. Suppletory Application. – Republic Act No. 10911, 
16 
or the “Anti-Age Discrimination in Employment Act,” and all other 
17 
applicable laws, rules and regulations shall have suppletory application in 
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cases involving employment of senior citizens not provided for under this 
19 
Act. 
20 
 
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SECTION 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within 
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ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this Act, the DOLE, National 
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Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC) and the CSC, in coordination with 
24 
concerned agencies and other stakeholders, shall formulate its 
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implementing rules and regulations. 
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SECTION 8. Separability Clause. – Any portion or provision of this 
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Act that is declared unconstitutional or invalid shall not have the effect of 
29 
nullifying other portions or provisions hereof as long as such remaining 
30 
portions can still subsist and be given effect in their entirety. 
31 
 
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SECTION 9. Repealing Clause. – All laws, ordinances, rules, 
33 
regulations, other issuances or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with 
34 
this Act, are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
35 
 
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SECTION 10. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) 
1 
days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers 
2 
of general circulation. 
3 
 
4 
Approved, 
5