Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 3040

Introduced by Representatives
ESTRELLITA B, SUANSING AND HORACIO P. SUANSING, JR.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Section 9 Article II of the 1987 Philippine Constitution states that, “The State
shall promote a just and dynamic social order that will ensure the prosperity and
independence of the nation and free the people from poverty through policies that
provide adequate social services, promote full employment, a rising standard of
living, and an improved quality of life for all.”

Sections 10 and 11, it is further declared that the State shall provide social
justice in all phases of national development and that the State values the dignity of
every human person and guarantees full respect for human rights.

Republic Act No. 9994, also known as the Expanded Senior Citizens Act,
recognizes the contributions of our senior citizens to nation building and that they
are considered as “integral part of the Philippine society,” and fulfills the right of
elderly citizens to “adequate food, water, shelter, clothing and health care through
the provision of income, family and community support and self-help.”!

Numerous issues and complaints arising from the non-compliance of certain
establishments concerning the granting of benefits provided under said law have
reached the offices of concerned government agencies.

For instance, the spirit of the law in granting 5% discount to a senior citizen
on the monthly utilization of water and electricity has been hampered because of
Section 4 (c) of R.A. No. 9994 limits its application to those senior citizens whose
consumption does not exceed 100 kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity and 30 cubic
meters (m®) of water, making those senior citizens exceeding the prescribed
limitations no longer entitled to the 5% discount.

Thus, this bill seeks to amend this law and apply the 5% discount to the first
150 kWh of electricity and the first 50 m? of water. Furthermore, their utility fees
shall also be exempted from Value Added Tax (VAT).

In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

iG REP. nolkigad >. etanamna, JR.

istfict, Sultan Kudarat

( ESTRELLITA B. SU:
1s District, Nueva Ecija

* Unite Nation Principles for Oder Persons. Adopted by General Assembly resoluton 46/1 of 16 December 1991,


25
26

Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives

Quezon City

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

3040
House Bill No.

Introduced by Representatives
ESTRELLITA B. SUANSING AND HORACIO P. SUANSING, JR.

AN ACT
AMENDING SECTION 4 (C) OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9994, OTHERWISE
KNOWN AS THE EXPANDED SENIOR CITIZENS’ ACT OF 2010

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

SECTION 1. Section 4 (c) of Republic Act No. 9994, otherwise
known as the Expanded Senior Citizens’ Act of 2010, is hereby amended to
read as follows:

“SEC. 4. Privileges for the Senior Citizens. - The senior
citizens shall be entitled to the following:

Be o5)
XXX.

“(c) the grant of a minimum of five percent (5%) discount
ON THE FIRST ONE HUNDRED FIFTY KILOWATT HOURS
(100 KWH) AND ON THE FIRST FIFTY CUBIC METERS (50
M3) relative to [the] THEIR monthly utilization of water and
electricity supplied by public utilities, AND EXEMPTION
FROM THE VALUE ADDED TAX (VAT): Provided, That the
individual meters for the foregoing utilities are registered in
the name of the senior citizen residing therein: [Provided,
further, That the monthly consumption does not exceed one
hundred kilowatt hours (100 kWh) of electricity and thirty
cubic meters (30 m%) of water:] AND Provided, furthermore,
‘That the privilege is grated per household regardless of the
number of senior citizens residing therein;”

SECTION 2. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within
thirty (30) days from its enactment, the concerned named agencies under
Republic Act No. 9994 shall promulgate the implementing rules and
regulations necessary for the effective implementation of this Act.


SECTION 3. Separability Clause. - Should any of the provisions
of this Act be held unconstitutional or invalid, the remaining provisions not
otherwise affected shall remain in full force and effect.

SECTION 4. _—_Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen
(15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of
general circulation.

Approved,