Republic of the Philippines
HOUSH 0F REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila
NINETEHNTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session
HouseBil|No.       9955
90
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INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE JOSE ``B0NG" J. TEVES, JR.
AN ACT INCREASING THE SHNIOR CITIZEN DISCOUNT FOR MEDICINES
AND OTHER HEALTH CARE SERVICHS
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Filipino culture embraces filial piety wherein we are expected to respect our elders and
provide them care. Unlike in western and other European countries where the retired and the
elderlies  are  left  alone  or  in  nursing  homes,  in  our  country,  younger  generations  take  the
responsibility of attending the needs of our senior citizens, especially our loved ones as a way
of honoring them. Likewise, we acknowledge the importance and role and contribution of our
elderlies in nation building.
As a way of valuing our senior citizens and their contributions to our country,  Congress
passed Republic Act No.  7432 or the  Senior Citizens Act in  1992 and was later amended by
Republic Act No. 9257 and Republic Act No. 9994 or the Expanded Senior Citizens Act. The
said legislations  aim to provide privileges to  our senior citizens which includes  discount on
medicines, transportation, and other consumer goods, and other benefits.


According to the latest census of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), as of 2020,
the Philippines have 9.22 million  senior citizens or those aged  sixty and abovet.  Of the  said
senior citizens, 914.42 thousand are aged eighty (80) and above2.
It can be noted that most senior citizens are already unemployed, retired, or out of work,
and may depend solely on the Social Security System (SSS) or Government Service Insurance
System (GSIS) pension as source of income. This age group is most likely to be prone to age-
related sickness which sometimes require expensive treatment and medicines. Likewise many
of our senior citizens are uninsured, uninsurable, or insured at prohibitive cost. Although they
are Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (Philhealth) members, Philhealth will not cover
outpatient treatments, medicines, and consultation.
This   measure   seeks  to  increase  the  discount  privilege   of  our  senior  citizens  in
purchasing medicines and availing medical services to thirty (30) percent for sixty to seventy-
nine (60-79) years old and forty (40) percent for eighty (80) years old and older. This increase
in  discount will  address the high cost of medicines and other health related  services for our
senior citizens.
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill iseamestl
HON. JOS
«B0NG„
TEVHS, JR.
Representative, TGP Party-List
Lhttps://mirror.pia.gov.ph/features/2023/10/04/honoring-the-invaluable-legacy-of-filipino-senior-
citizens#:~:text=As%20ofyo20the%20latest%20census,Philippine%20Statistics%20Authority%20(PSA).
2https://knoema.com/atlas/Philippines/topics/Demographics/Age/Population-aged-80-years


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE 0F REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session
HouseBillNo.      9955
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVH JOSE "B0NG" J. TEVES, JR.
AN ACT INCREASING THE SENIOR CITIZHN DISCOUNT FOR MHDICINES
AND OTHER HEALTH CARE SERVICHS
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 "Mas Murang Gamot Para
sa Senior Citizens Act."
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. -In consonance with Article XIII, Section  11  of
the 1987 Constitution, the State shall adopt an integrated and comprehensive approach to health
development which shall  endeavor to make essential goods,  health and other social  services
available  to  all  the  people  at  affordable  cost.  There  shall  be  priority  for  the  needs  of the
underprivileged,  sick,  elderly,  disabled,  women  and  children.  Article  XV,  Section  4  of the
Constitution Further declares that it is the duty of the family to take care of its elderly members
while the State may design programs of social security for them.


SECTION 3. Privileges for Senior Citizens. -
(a)  Senior Citizens with  age from  sixty  (60) to  seventy-nine  (79) years old  shall  be
entitled to the thirty percent (30%) discount and exemption from the value-added
tax (VAT), if applicable on:
(1) the    purchase    of   medicines,    including    purchase    of   influenza    and
pneumococcal   vaccines,    and   such   other   essential    medical    supplies,
accessories and equipment to be determined by the Department of Health
(DOH).
(2) the  professional   fees  of  attending  physician/s  in  all   private  hospitals,
medical facilities, outpatient clinics and home health care services;
(3) the professional fees of licensed professional health providing home health
care  services  as endorsed by private hospitals or employed through home
health care employment agencies;
(4) medical  and  dental  services,  diagnostic  and  laboratory  fees  in  all  private
hospitals,   medical   facilities,   outpatient   clinics,   and   home   health   care
services,  in accordance with the rules  and regulations to be issued by the
DOH,  in  coordination  with  the  Philippine  Health  Insurance  Corporation
(PhilHealth)
(b)  Senior Citizens with age eighty (80) years old and above shall be entitled to forty
percent  (40%)   discount  and   exemption  from   the  value-added  tax  (VAT),   if
applicable, on the items and transactions provided for under subsection (a) of this
section.
SHCTION 4. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty (60) days from
the effectivity of this Act, the Department of Health, in consultation with the other stakeholders,
shall  formulate and adopt amendments to the existing rules  and regulations to carry  out the
objectives of this Act.
SHCTI0N 5.  Separability clause.  - If any  provision of this Act shall be declared
unconstitutional or invalid, such declaration shall not invalidate other parts thereof which shall
remain in full force and effect.


SECTION 6. Amendatory Clause. - Section 4 of Republic Act No. 9994 otherwise
known as "Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010", as well as all laws, decrees, orders, rules
and  regulations  and  other issuances  inconsistent with the provisions  of this Act are  hereby
deemed amended and modified accordingly.
SECTION 7. Hffectivity Clause. -This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,