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Republic of the Philippines I
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES i
Quezon City >=
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EIGTEENTH CONGRESS Mpg ©
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 5715

Introduced by HON. FRANCISCO G. DATOL, JR.,
Representative, Senior Citizens Party-List

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Filipino citizens who are sixty (60) years old are automatically considered
seniors. Most of them, though, are still mentally alert, physically able and productive.
Senior citizens could be likened, as the saying goes, “like wine they mellow with age.”
Even biblical passages acknowledged the value and worth of older men. In Titus 2:2-
3 “older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith and in
steadfastness.” Interestingly, in Psalm 92:14, “they still bear fruit in old age; they are
even full of sap and green.”

Inspired by these sayings, not to mention that the experiences of senior citizens
accumulated through their work and experts in specialized fields can still be harnessed
for productive purposes that enable them to contribute to the economic well-being of
the community they serve and ultimately the country, this bill is being introduced. This
bill also aims to address the great number of senior citizens who remained unemployed
and idle, since given their obnoxious situation, they will deteriote faster and become
burdens to their family and the community.

In the barangay councils, the youth are properly represented, in the municipal,
city councils and provincial boards, the youth, league of barangays, women,
agricultural or industrial workers, urban poor, indigenous cultural communities, or
disabled persons are all given the opportunities to become members of the local
government units specifically excluding the senior citizens sectors.

The role of senior citizens in every election is important, their collective
participation wields power and strength. The political activity of senior citizens is a


great model of a healthy democracy claimed by Andrea Campbell, an American political
analyst.

This bill is geared towards emphasizing the important role of older
persons in nation-building and to raise and address issues concerning their sector and
in response to the state’s policy of giving full support to the improvement of the total
well-being of the elderly and their full participation in society, considering that senior
citizens are integral part of Philippine society.

Undoubtedly, the wealth of knowledge, skills, wisdom and enviable
experiences of senior citizens could contribute to the formulation and enactment of
appropriate legislation that will benefit the country as a whole by making them
members of the local government units.

The potential of older persons is a powerful basis for future
development. This enables society to rely increasingly on the skills, experience and
wisdom of older persons, not only to take the lead in their own betterment and also
to participate actively in that of society as a whole (Article 10, Political Declaration, 24
World Assembly on Ageing, Madrid, Spain, 2002).

The expectations of older persons and the economic needs of society
demand that older persons be able to participate in the political life of their society.

Approval of this bill is most earnestly sought.

Senior Citizens Party List


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGTEENTH CONGRESS

First Regular Session
5715

House Bill No.

Introduced by HON. FRANCISCO G. DATOL, JR.,
Representative, Senior Citizens Party-List

AN ACT

PROVIDING REPRESENTATION OF SENIOR CITIZENS IN THE DIFFERENT
LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS AMENDING CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF
REPUBLIC ACT 7160, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT
CODE OF 1991 AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

Section 1. This Act shall be known as “Senior Citizens in Local
Government Units Act.”

Section 2. Section 390, Chapter 4. - The Sangguniang Barangay of the Local
Government Code of 1991 shall be amended and read as follows:

"SEC. 390. Composition. - The sangguniang barangay, the
legislative body of the barangay, shall be composed of the punong
barangay as presiding officer, and the seven (7) regular sangguniang
barangay members elected at large and the sangguniang kabataan
chairman AND A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE SENIOR CITIZENS
SECTOR TO BE APPOINTED BY HEAD OF OSCA OF THE
CONCERNED BARANGAY FROM THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF
VARIOUS SENIOR CITIZENS ORGANIZATIONS WITHIN THE
BARANGAY, as members.”


Section 3. Representative from the senior citizens sector shall have the same
duties, powers, benefits and responsibilities as a regular member of the sangguniang
barangay.

Section 4. Section 446, Article Three, Sangguniang Bayan of the Local
Government Code of 1991 shall be amended and read as follows:

"SEC. 446. Composition. - (a) The sangguniang bayan the
legislative body of the municipality, shall be composed of the municipal
vice-mayor as the presiding officer, the regular sangguniang bayan
members, the president of the municipal chapter of the liga ng mga
barangay, the president of the pambayang pederasyon ng mga
sangguniang kabataan, and the sectoral representatives, as members.

(b) In addition thereto, there shall be FOUR (4) sectoral
representatives: one (1) from the women; and as shall be determined
by the sangguniang concerned within ninety (90) days prior to the
holding of local elections, one (1) from the agricultural or industrial
workers, and one (1) from other sectors, including the urban poor,
indigenous cultural communities, or disabled persons AND ONE (1)
FROM THE SENIOR CITIZENS SECTOR TO ABE APPOINTED BY
HEAD OF OSCA OF THE CONCERNED MUNICIPALITY FROM THE
RECOMMENDATIONS OF VARIOUS SENIOR CITTIZENS
ORGANIZATIONS WITHIN THE MUNICIPALITY.

(©) The regular members of the sangguniang bayan and the
sectoral representatives shall be elected OR APPOINTED jn the manner
as may be provided for by law”

Section 5. Representative from the senior citizens sector shall have the same
duties, powers, benefits and responsibilities as a regular member of sangguniang
bayan.

Section 6. Section 457, Article Three. — Sangguniang Panglungsod of the Local
Government Code of 1991 shall be amended and read as follows:

“Section 457. Composition. - (a) The sangguniang panlungsod,
the legislative body of the city, shall be composed of the city vice-mayor


as presiding officer, the regular sangguniang members, the president of
the city chapter of the liga ng mga barangay, the president of the
panlungsod na pederasyon ng mga sangguniang kabataan, and the
sectoral representatives, as members.

(b) In addition thereto, there shall be FOUR (4) sectoral
representatives: one (1) from the women; and as shall be determined
by the sanggunian concerned within ninety (90) days prior to the holding
of the local elections, one (1) from agricultural or industrial workers; one
(L) from the other sectors, including the urban poor, indigenous cultural
communities, or disabled persons AND ONE (1) FROM SENIOR
CITIZENS SECTOR TO BE APPOINTED BY HEAD OF OSCA OF THE
CONCERNED CITY FROM THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF
VARIOUS SENIOR CITIZENS ORGANIZATIONS WITHI THE
CITY.

(©) The regular members of the sangguniang panlungsod and the
sectoral representatives shall be elected OR APPOINTED in the manner
as may be provided for by law.”

Section 7. Representative from the senior citizens sector shall have the same
duties, powers, benefits and responsibilities as a regular member of the sangguniang
panlungsod.

Section 8. Section 467, Article Three, The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of the
Local Government Code of 1991 shall be amended and read as follows:

"SEC. 467. Composition. - (a) The sangguniang panialawigan, the
legislative body of the province, shall be composed of the provincial vice
governor as presiding officer, the regular sanggunian members, the
president of the provincial chapter of the liga ng mga barangay, the
president of the panlalawigang pederasyon ng mga sangguniang
kabataan, the president of the provincial federation of sangguniang
members of municipalities and component cities and the sectoral
representatives, as members.

(b) In addition thereto, there shall be FOUR (4) sectoral
representatives: one (1) from the women; and as shall be determined
by the sanggunian concerned within ninety (90) days prior to the holding
of the local elections, one (1) from the agricultural or industrial workers;


one (1) from other sectors including the urban poor, indigenous cultural
communities, or disabled persons AND ONE (1) FROM THE SENIOR
CITIZENS SECTOR TO BE APPOINTED BY REGIONAL DIRECTOR
OF THE NATIONAL SENIOR CITIZENS COMMISSION OF THE
CONCERNED REGION FROM THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF
VARIOUS SENIOR CITIZENS ORGANIZATIONS WITHIN THE
REGION”

(©) The regular members of the sangguniang panlalawigan and
the sectoral representatives shall be elected OR APPOINTED in the
manner as may be provided for by law.”

Section 9. Representative from the senior citizens sector shall have the same
duties, powers, benefits and responsibilities as a regular member of the sangguniang
panlalawigan.

Section 10. The qualifications of a representative from the senior citizens
sector to the local government units are:

. Must be a Filipino citizen;

Must be a senior citizen as defined by law;

Must be a registered voter;

|. Must be a bona fide member of a senior citizens organization for at

eaogse

least six (6) months preceding the day of his/her appointment

e. His/her senior organization must be registered and recognized by the
Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs and the Barangay of the place
where he/she is being appointed;

f. Must have a good moral character;

g. Must not be convicted of any crime punishable by more than one (1)
year of imprisonment and/or fine equivalent to One Thousand
(P1,000.00) pesos.

Section 11. The Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs and the Barangay shall
not refuse registration and recognition of senior citizens organization for any political
reason. Neither would they impose difficult/technical and capricious requirements in
giving said recognition. Otherwise, this may be a ground for their removal in office.


Section 12. Within six (6) months from approval of this Act, the Commission
on Elections, in consultation with the National Senior Citizens Commission, the
Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Department of Social
Welfare and Development, is tasked of drafting and formulation Rules and Regulations
implementing the procedures in appointing representative from the senior citizens
sector to local government units.

Section 13. All laws, decrees, executive orders rules and regulations, or parts
thereof which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified
accordingly.

Section 14. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in
the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,