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Republic of the Philippines {
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
Quezon City, Philippines \

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 7018

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE ALFRED VARGAS

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Senior citizens comprise nearly seven percent of the total Filipino population
with their number currently estimated at 6.263 million’. It is predicted that over
time, the percentage of the elderly population in relation to the total population of
the country might rise to 10%.

The Philippine government recognizes the role of the elderly in nation
building and continues to maximize their contribution to development through
Republic Act No. 7432, as amended by RA 9994, otherwise known as the Expanded
Senior Citizens Act. While this statute grants several benefits and special privileges to
senior citizens, more needs to be done to show their importance to us and our
appreciation to them. For one, unlike the sectors of the youth, women, and persons
with disabilities, the Filipino senior citizens are yet to have their own Commission
that will primarily cater to the needs of our lolos and lolas, and craft and implement
policies that will further advance the rights and privileges of the sector.

To further empower the Filipino senior citizens, this bill seeks to abolish the
National Coordinating and Monitoring Board and create the National Commission for
Senior Citizens.

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

* 2010 Census of Population and Housing

2 Evangelista, Rafael. (2015) Time for senior citizens to fight for our rights. Rappler. Available at:
htp://www.rappler.com/move-ph/ispeak/106040-ph-senior-citizens-rights (28 October 2017]


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Philippines

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

7018

HOUSE BILL NO.

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE ALFRED VARGAS

AN ACT
ABOLISHING THE NATIONAL COORDINATING AND MONITORING BOARD AND
CREATING THE NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR SENIOR CITIZENS, AMENDING
THEREFOR REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7432, AS AMENDED BY REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9257,
AS FURTHER AMENDED BY REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9994, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS
THE “EXPANDED SENIOR CITIZENS ACT OF 2010”

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

SECTION 1. Section 11 of Republic Act No. 7432, as amended, is hereby
amended to read as follows:

“[SEC.11.Monitoring and Coordinating Mechanism. - A National
Coordinating and Monitoring Board shall be established which shall be
composed of the following:

(a) Chairperson-the Secretary of the DSWD or an authorized
representative;
(b) Vice-Chairperson-The secretary of Department of Interior and
Local Government (DILG) or an authorized representative; and
(©) Members:
(1) The Secretary of DO} or an authorized representative;
(2) The Secretary of DOH or an authorized representative;
(3) The Secretary of DTI or an authorized representative; and
(4) Representatives from five (5) NGOs for senior citizens when are
duly accredited by the DSWD and have service primarily for
senior citizens, Representatives of NGOs shall serve a period of
three (3) years.
The Board may call on other government agencies, NGOs and POs to
serve as resource persons as the need arises. Resource persons have
no right to vote in the National Coordinating and Monitoring Board]

SECTION 11. NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR SENIOR
CITIZENS(NCSC) - TO CARRY OUT THE POLICIES SET FORTH, THERE


SHALL BE CREATED THE NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR SENIOR CITIZENS
(NCSC) WHICH SHALL BE THE PRIMARY GOVERNMENT AGENCY
RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FORMULATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF
POLICIES, PLANS, AND PROGRAMS TO RECOGNIZE, PROTECT AND
PROMOTE THE RIGHTS OF SENIOR CITIZENS.”

SEC.2. Section 12 of Republic Act No. 7432, as amended, is hereby amended to
read as follows:

“SECTION 12. APPOINTMENT. - THE CHAIRPERSON AND.
COMMISSIONER/S SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE
PHILIPPINES FROM A LIST OF RECOMMENDEES SUBMITTED BY SENIOR
CITIZENS ORGANIZATIONS AND ASSOCIATIONS.”

SEC.3. Section 13 of Republic Act No. 7432, as amended, is hereby amended
to read as follows:

“SECTION 13. QUALIFICATION, TENURE, COMPENSATION. - THE
CHAIRPERSON AND THE SIX (6) COMMISSIONERS MUST BE NATURAL
BORN CITIZENS, BONA FIDE MEMBERS OF SENIOR CITIZEN
ASSOCIATIONS OR ORGANIZATIONS AS CERTIFIED BY THE
ASSOCIATIONS OR ORGANIZATION, AT LEAST 60 YEARS OLD AT THE
TIME OF THE APPOINTMENT, PROVIDED, FURTHER, THAT THE
MEMBERS OF THE NCSC SHALL HOLD OFFICE FOR A PERIOD OF THREE
(3) YEARS, AND MAY BE SUBJECT TO REAPPOINTMENT FOR ANOTHER
TERM: PROVIDED, FURTHERMORE, THAT NO PERSONS SHALL SERVE
FOR MORE THAN TWO (2) TERMS. APPOINTMENT TO ANY VACANCY
SHALL ONLY BE FOR THE UNEXPIRED TERM OF THE PREDECESSOR AND
IN NO CASE SHALL A MEMBER BE APPOINTED OR DESIGNATED IN A
TEMPORARY OR ACTING CAPACITY: PROVIDED, FINALLY, THAT THE
CHAIRPERSON AND COMMISSIONERS SHALL BE ENTITLED TO
COMPENSATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SALARY
STANDARDIZATION LAW.”

SEC. 4. Section 14 of Republic Act No. 7432, as amended, is hereby
amended to read as follows:

“SECTION 14. REMOVAL FROM OFFICE. - ANY MEMBER OF THE
NCSC MAY BE REMOVED FROM OFFICE BY THE PRESIDENT, ON HIS OWN
INIATIATIVE OR UPON RECOMMENDATION BY ANY SENIOR CITIZENS’
ASSOCIATIONS OR ORGANIZATIONS, BEFORE THE EXPIRATION OF HIS
TERM FOR JUST CAUSE AND AFTER COMPLYING WITH DUE PROCESS
REQUIREMENTS OF LAW.”

SEC.5S. A new Section 15 is hereby added to Republic Act No. 7434, as
amended, to read as follows:


“ SECTION 15. APPOINTMENT OF COMMISSIONERS. - THE
PRESIDENT SHALL APPOINT THE SEVEN (7) COMMISSIONERS OF THE
NCSC WITHIIN NINETY (90) DAYS FROM THE EFFECTIVITY OF THIS ACT.”

SEC. 6. A new Section 16 is hereby added to Republic Act No. 7434, as
amended, to read as follows:

“ SECTION 16, POWERS AND FUNCTIONS. - TO ACCOMPLISH ITS
MANDATE, THE NCSC SHALL HAVE THE FOLLOWING POWERS,
JURISDICTION AND FUNCTION:

A) TO SERVE AS THE PRIMARY GOVERNMENT AGENCY THROUGH
WHICH SENIOR CITIZENS CAN SEEK GOVERNMENT
ASSISTANCE AND AS A MEDIUM THROUGH WHICH SUCH
ASSISTANCE MAY BE EXTENDED;

B) TO REVIEW AND ASSESS THE CONDITIONS OF SENIOR
CITIZENS INCLUDING EXISTING LAWS AND POLICIES
PERTINENT THERETO AND TO PROPOSE RELEVANT LAWS AND.
POLICIES TO ADDRESS THEIR ROLE IN NATIONAL
DEVELOPMENT;

C) TO FORMULATE AND IMPLEMENT POLICIES, PLANS,
PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS FOR THE ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND
CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE SENIOR CITIZENS AND TO
MONITOR THE IMPLEMENTATION THEREOF;

D) SUBJECT TO EXISTING LAWS, TO ENTER INTO CONTRACTS,
AGREEMENTS, OR ARRANGEMENT, WITH GOVERNMENT OR
PRIVATE AGENCIES OR ENTITIES AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO
ATTAIN OF THE OBJECTIVE OF THIS ACT, AND SUBJECT TO THE
APPROVAL OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES, TO.
OBTAIN LOANS FROM GOVERNMENT LENDING INSTITUTIONS
AND OTHER LENDING INSTITUTIONS TO FINANCE ITS
PROGRAMS;

E}

NEGOTIATE FOR FUNDS AND TO ACCEPT GRANTS, DONATIONS,
GIFTS, AND/OR PROPERTIES IN WHATEVER FORM AND FROM
WHATEVER SOURCE,LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL,SUBJECT TO
THE APPROVAL OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES,FOR
THE BENEFIT OF SENIOR CITIZENS AND ADMINISTER THE
SAME IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS THEREOF; OR IN THE
ABSENCE OF ANY CONDITION, IN SUCH MANNER CONSISTENT
WITH THE INTEREST OF SENIOR CITIZENS AS WELL AS
EXISTING LAWS;


F) TO COORDINATE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS
FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SENIOR CITIZENS AND TO
OVERSEE THE PROPER IMPLEMENTATION THEREOF;

G) TO PROMOTE PARTICIPATION OF SENIOR CITIZENS IN
BUSINESS CREATION AND ENTREPRENURIAL DEVELOPMENT
SUCH AS BUT NOT LIMITED TO MENTORSHIP, MANAGEMENT
AND POTENTIAL INVESTMENT;

H) TO CONVENE PERIODIC CONVENTIONS OR ASSEMBLIES OF
SENIOR CITIZENS TO REVIEW, ASSESS AS WELL AS PROPOSE
POLICIES OR PLANS;

1) TO PREPARE YEARLY ACCOMPLISHMENT REPORT FOR THE
OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT, CONGRESS, AND THE CONCERNED
NATIONAL GOVERNMENT AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS;

J) TO SUBMIT TO CONGRESS APPROPRIATE LEGISLATIVE
PROPOSALS INTENDED TO CARRY OUT THE POLICIES UNDER
THIS ACT;

K) TO PREPARE AND SUBMIT THE APPPROPRIATE BUDGET TO
THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT;

L) TO PROMULGATE THE NECESSARY RULES AND REGULATIONS
FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS ACT;

M) TO EXERCISE SUCH OTHER POWERS AND FUNCTIONS AS MAY
BE DIRECTED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES; AND

N) TO REPRESENT THE SENIOR CITIZENS OF THE PHILIPPINES IN
ALL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES AND CONVENTIONS
DEALING WITH SENIOR CITIZENS AND OTHER RELATED
CONCERNS.”

SEC. 7. A new Section 17 is hereby added to Republic Act No. 7434, as
amended, to read as follows:

“SECTION 17. REGIONAL COMMISSION FOR SENIOR CITIZENS. -
THERE SHALL BE ESTABLISHED IN ALL REGIONS A REGIONAL
COMMISSION FOR SENIOR CITIZENS WITH SIMILAR MEMBESHIP AND
FUNCTIONS AS THE NATIONAL COMMISSION AS FAR AS PRACTICABLE,
SIMILAR BODIES SHALL BE ESTABLISHED IN THE LOCAL GOVENRMENT
UNITS.”

SEC. 8. Separability Clause. - Should any provision of this Act be found
unconstitutional by a court of law, such provision shall be severed from the


remainder of this Act, and shall not affect the enforceability of the remaining
provisions of this Act.

SEC.9. Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential decrees, executive
orders and rules and regulations or part thereof, contrary to, or inconsistent with
the provisions of this Act, are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 10. Effectivity - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
complete publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) national newspapers of
general circulation.

Approved,