Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
Third Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. 10893 
____________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by Rep. Gus S. Tambunting 
AN ACT ABOLISHING THE USE OF PURCHASE SLIP BOOKLET FOR AVAILING 
SPECIAL PRIVILEGES FOR SENIOR CITIZENS AND PERSONS WITH 
DISABILITIES (PWDs), CREATING FOR THIS PURPOSE THE E-SENIOR 
CITIZENS AND PWDs DATABASE, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Republic Act No. 9993 or the “Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010” was enacted to 
grant benefits and special privileges to the elderly in response to the State’s 
constitutional mandate to provide adequate social services, promote full employment, 
a rising standard of living, and an improved quality of life.1 In achieving said objectives, 
the State is mandated to adopt an integrated and comprehensive approach to health 
security, which shall endeavor to make essential goods, health, and other social 
services available to all people at an affordable cost. Additionally, the State is mandated 
to give priority to the needs of the underprivileged, sick, elderly, disabled, women and 
children.2 
Availing privileges granted under the laws can sometimes pose unnecessary 
challenges and burdens to our qualified elderly. The so-called Senior Citizens’ 
“Purchase Booklet” is one of the documents required by a retailer every time a purchase 
of basic necessities and prime commodities is made.3 It is also used by the retailer to 
record the kind of over-the-counter medicine purchased by the elderly, how many, when 
and where it was purchased, and monitor the last purchase made for a certain 
medicine.4 
A senior citizen must present to the retailer or service provider his/her Purchase Booklet 
that bears his/her name to avail a special discount and such other privileges or 
entitlements provided under the law. The booklet serves as a proof of eligibility and 
identity of qualified senior citizens. However, despite its apparent usefulness, the 
system has become less and less convenient over time, considering that our seniors 
may sometimes tend to forget to bring their booklets. As such, the retailer may 
temporarily deny the privilege. This scenario denies the grant of privileges to our elderly, 
1 See Article II, Section 10 of the 1987 Constitution. 
2 See Article II, Section 11 of the 1987 Constitution. 
3 Section 5 of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Administrative Order No. 03, series of 2005. 
4 See Department of Health Administrative Order No. 2010-0032 dated 09 October 2010. 
September 11, 2024
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especially when dealing with situations that require immediate attention such as the 
purchase emergency and maintenance medication. 
The proposal further aims to include the Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), considering 
that they often face barriers that can make it more challenging for them to access 
services and special privileges. Thus, the law will ensure that they have better access 
to the benefits and services provided for by applicable laws. 
The system of Purchase Slip Booklet is now obsolete. As technology has advanced, 
many transactions can now be done electronically. Integrating technology to the 
advantage of our elderly is the goal of this proposal. The policy of the state may be 
better achieved when we integrate technology in the system for monitoring, storing, and 
reporting data in relation to the purchase of medicine and other essential goods covered 
by discounts and tax exemptions under the law. 
REP. GUS S. TAMBUNTING 


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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
Third Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. 10893
______________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by Rep. Gus S. Tambunting 
______________________________________________________________________ 
AN ACT ABOLISHING THE USE OF PURCHASE SLIP BOOKLET FOR AVAILING 
SPECIAL PRIVILEGES FOR SENIOR CITIZENS AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES 
(PWDs), CREATING FOR THIS PURPOSE THE E-SENIOR CITIZENS AND PWDs 
DATABASE, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
Section 1. Short Title. – This law shall be known as “The E-Senior Citizens and Persons with 
Disabilities (PWDs) Database Act”. 
Section 2. Declaration of Policy. – As provided in the Constitution of the Republic of the 
Philippines, it is the declared policy of the State to 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. In the Declaration of Principles and 
State Policies in Article II, 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. 
Article XIII, Section 11 of the Constitution provides that the Sate 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. 
Further, the State recognizes the value and potential of the role of digitalization in enhancing 
the healthcare services in the Philippines. The State seeks to leverage digital platforms to 
improve the delivery of healthcare services in the Philippines and to ensure the timely, 
efficient, and effective grant of special privileges among the elderly and persons with 
disabilities (PWDs). 


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Section 3. Abolition of the Purchase Slip Booklet System. – The use of purchase slip booklets 
for senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs) to claim discounts and benefits under 
the law is hereby discontinued. For the purposes of this Act, the term “Purchase Slip Booklets” 
refers to physical booklets, pamphlets, stubs, or any document required as a condition to avail 
the special discounts granted to senior citizens and PWDs. Provided, that the term shall not 
include valid identification documents such as, but not limited to, identification cards as 
competent proof of identity and eligibility. 
 
Section 4. The creation of the “E-Senior Citizens and PWDs Databases.” – There shall be 
digital platforms called the “E-Senior Citizens Database” and the “E-PWDs Database”, which 
will serve as the centralized digital databases for senior citizens and PWDs in the Philippines. 
For this purpose, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the 
Department of Health (DOH), the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and the 
Department of Information and Communications Technology shall develop and implement 
digital platforms replacing the Purchase Booklet.  
 
Section 5. Data Privacy. The data collected and stored in the E-Senior Citizens and PWDs 
Databases shall be limited to information necessary for the provision of benefits and services, 
including, but not limited to personal identification details, contact information, and the kinds 
of goods and services availed of for monitoring purposes. The collection, processing, storage 
of data, and data sharing shall be done in compliance with the Republic Act No. 10173 or the 
“Data Privacy Act of 2012”, its Implementing Rules and Regulation, and related issuances. 
 
Section 6. Separability Clause. – If any provision of this Act is declared invalid or 
unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect. 
 
Section 7. Repealing Clause. – All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules, and regulations or 
parts thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or 
modified accordingly. 
 
Section 8. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in at 
least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation. 
 
Approved,