Amending R.A. No. 11350 (National Commission of Senior Citizens Act)

Senate Office of the frcretary TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 25 OCT 28 P5:16 First Regular Session SENATE RECEIVED BY: 1469 S.B. No. Introduced by SEN. WIN GATCHALIAN AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 11350, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "NATIONAL COMMISSION OF SENIOR CITIZENS ACT", AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES EXPLANATORY NOTE Republic Act (RA) No. 11350 or the "National Commission of Senior Citizens Act", which was signed into law in 2019, created the National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC) under the Office of the President. As provided under Section 11 thereof, "all functions, programs, projects and activities which are being undertaken by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for the formulation, implementation, and coordination of social welfare and development (SWD) policies and programs for the poor, vulnerable and disadvantaged senior citizens shall be transferred to the National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC)." Consistent with the NCSC Act, RA No. 11916 mandated the transfer from the DSWD to the NCSC of the implementation, distribution, and management of the social pension for senior citizens within three (3) years from the effectivity of the said Act. Unfortunately, the NCSC has been noted to have "languished in reaching its milestones

and has yet to make any significant progress in shepherding the transition of the functions of DSWD for senior citizens. "1 In order to ensure that the welfare of poor, vulnerable, and disadvantaged senior citizens are adequately protected through the swift and efficient implementation of related laws and policies, there is a necessity to put the NCSC under the purview of the DSWD. Hence, on 18 September 2025, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. issued Executive Order No. 96, transferring the NCSC from the Office of the President to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to strengthen policies and programs for the elderly. EO No. 96 aims to establish a strong organizational link between the NCSC and the DSWD in order to enhance the delivery of social services, and promote the overall wellbeing and protection of the elderly.? This measure aims to institutionalize EO No. 96, amending for this purpose RA No. 11350, by turning the NCSC into a policy-making body attached to the DSWD. This will allow for a more effective coordination between the DSWD and the NCSC while at the same time leveraging the strong organizational structure of the DSWD. Not only will this streamline the bureaucracy, it will also ensure that senior citizens are afforded the appropriate services and benefits provided under existing laws and regulations. In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this measure is earnestly sought. 1 Tell it to SunStar: Senior Citizen Party-list calls for House probe on NCSC chairman, SUNSTAR, at https://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/opinion/tell-it-to-sunstar-senior-citizen-party-list-calls-for-house-probe-on- ncsc-chairman (last visited Sep. 20, 2025). 2 Senior citizens agency now under DSWD, PCO, at https://pco.gov.ph/news releases/senior-citizens-agency-now- under-dswd/ (last visited Sep. 20,2025).

Senate Office of the Secretary TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES OCT 28 P5:16 First Regular Session ] SENATE RECEIVED BY: 1469 S. B. No. _ Introduced by SEN. WIN GATCHALIAN AN ACT AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 11350, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "NATIONAL COMMISSION OF SENIOR CITIZENS ACT", AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Section 3 of Republic Act (RA) No. 11350, otherwise known

as the "National Commission of Senior Citizens Act", is hereby amended to read as follows: "Section 3. Creation of the National Commission of Senior Citizens. - There is hereby created the National Commission of Senior Citizens, hereinafter referred to as the Commission, and which shall be [under the Office of the President] ATTACHED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT (DSWD). The Commission shall establish its principal office in the National Capital Region and it may set up = field offices in coordination with appropriate government agencies. THE COMMISSION SHALL BE THE POLICY-MAKING BODY OF THE GOVERNMENT WHICH SHALL BE TASKED TO COORDINATE, MONITOR, AND EVALUATE THE PROGRAMS AND ACTION PLANS OF THE GOVERNMENT

PERTAINING TO THE WELFARE OF SENIOR CITIZENS PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT: PROVIDED, THAT THE DSWD SHALL REMAIN IN CHARGE OF PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS FOR THE POOR, VULNERABLE AND DISADVANTAGED SENIOR CITIZENS, INCLUDING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SOCIAL PENSION FOR INDIGENT SENIOR CITIZENS UNDER REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9994; PROVIDED, FURTHER, THAT THE DSWD MAY WORK WITH THE NCSC IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SUCH PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS FOR SENIOR CITIZENS."

SEC. 2. Section 7(a) of RA No. 11350 is hereby deleted, subparagraphs

(b) to (h) are hereby redesignated as subparagraphs (a) to (g) respectively, and Section 7(b) is hereby amended to read as follows: "Section 7. Functions. - The Commission shall: ((a) Ensure the full implementation of laws, policies, and programs of the government pertaining to senior citizens; review and conduct studies on the same: and recommend appropriate actions thereon to Congress and the President; ] [b)] (A) Formulate policies for the promotion and protection of the rights and well-being of senior citizens, REVIEW AND CONDUCT STUDIES ON THE SAME, AND RECOMMEND APPROPRIATE ACTIONS THEREON TO CONGRESS AND THE DSWD; xxx"

SEC. 3. Section 9 of RA No. 11350 is hereby amended to read as follows:

"Section 9. Executive Director. - The [Commission] PRESIDENT shall appoint an Executive Director who shall be responsible for implementing the policies, rules, regulations and directives of the Commission; the management of the Commission's daily operations; and for coordinating and

- supervising the activities of the different offices, divisions, and units of the Commission. XXX"

SEC. 4. Section 11 of RA No. 11350 is hereby deleted and Sections 12

to 16 are hereby renumbered as Sections 11 to 15, respectively.

SEC. 5. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance,

executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, proclamation, charter, rule or regulation and/or parts thereof contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly.

SEC. 6. Separability Clause. - If for any reason, any section or

provision of this Act is declared unconstitutional or invalid, other sections or provisions which are not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.

SEC. 7. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days

following its publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation. Approved,