115 OG No. 35, 9596 (September 2, 2019)

[ REPUBLIC ACT NO. 11350, July 25, 2019 ]

AN ACT CREATING THE NATIONAL COMMISSION OF SENIOR CITIZENS, PROVIDING FOR ITS FUNCTIONS, ABOLISHING THE NATIONAL COORDINATING COUNCIL, AND MONITORING BOARD, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7432, AS AMENDED, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:SECTION I. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "National Commission of Senior Citizens Act".SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to adopt measures whereby our senior citizens are assisted and appreciated by the community as a whole, provide services and activities beneficial to senior citizens, their families and communities they serve, and establish community-based health and rehabilitation, educational, and socioeconomic programs for all senior citizens.Consistent with this policy, the State shall promote the advocacy of and collaboration between different stakeholders and senior citizens to ensure the effective implementation of various programs and services, particularly on the development of senior citizens and advancing their health and well-being, and ensuring a supportive and enabling environment for the elderly. SEC. 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. 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. SEC. 4. Composition. - The Commission shall be composed of a Chairperson and six (6) Commissioners and shall act as a collegial body. The Chairperson shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Commission. The six (6) Commissioners shall represent different geographical regions of the Philippines and shall hold office in their respective regions: Provided, That the full Commission shall meet at least once every month. SEC. 5. Term of Office. - The Chairperson and Commissioners shall have a term of office of six (6) years, without prejudice to reappointment by the President. Of those first appointed, the Chairperson and two (2) Commissioners shall hold office for six (6) years, two (2) Commissioners shall hold office for four (4) years, and two (2) Commissioners shall hold office for two (2) years. Appointment to any vacancy shall only be for the unexpired term of predecessor.SEC. 6. Qualifications. - The members of the Commission must be citizens and residents of the Philippines; at least sixty (60) years old at the time of their appointment; good moral character; bona fide members of senior citizens associations; holders of a college degree or have relevant experience in their affairs of senior citizens; of good health and sound mind; have not been convicted by a final judgment of a crime involving moral turpitude; and recommended by a general assembly of senior citizens organizations: Provided, That at least two (2) Commissioners shall be women. SEC. 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) Formulate policies for the promotion and protection of the rights and well-being of senior citizens;(c) Conduct information, education and communication campaigns to raise awareness on the rights of senior citizens;(d) Establish and maintain cooperation and consultations with local government units and national government agencies on all matters pertaining to the general welfare of senior citizens;(e) Represent the Philippines in international functions, fora, or conferences on senior citizens and establish and maintain linkages with the international senior citizen or senior citizen-serving institutions or organizations and counterpart government agencies of other states; (f) Constitute and convene when necessary, an advisory body to be composed of such representatives from the govenrment, nongovernment organizations, civil society, and the private sector, as the Commission may deem appropriate, to assist in the performance of its functions;(g) Develop appropriate mechanisms and procedures for the selection and nomination of the members of the Commission for appointment by the President; and(h) Perform such other actions and functions for the promotion of the welfare of senior citizens, as may be directed by the President.SEC. 8. Organizational Structure. - Subject to the approval of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), the Commission shall determine the organizational structure and staffing patterns, create offices, divisions, or units as it may deem necessary, and appoint its officers and employees in accordance with civil service laws, rules and regulations. The remuneration structure for the positions in the staffing pattern shall strictly conform to Republic Act No. 6758, otherwise known as the "Compensation and Position Classification Act of 1989". SEC. 9. Executive Director. - The Commission 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 operational and for coordinating and supervising the activities of the different offices, divisions, and units of the Commission. The Executive Director shall be a Career Executive Service Officer and shall have at least five (5) years of relevant experience in any of the following fields: law; economics; commerce; management; social service; or finance. SEC. 10. Abolition of the National Coordinating and Monitoring Board. - The National Coordinating and Monitoring Board created by virtue of Republic Act No. 9994, otherwise known as the "Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010", is hereby abolished. SEC. 11. Transfer of Functions from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to the National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC). - 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). SEC. 12. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to fund the implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act. SEC. 13. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Commission, after due consultation with the DBM, DSWD, Department of the Interior and Local Government, League of Cities of the Philippines, League of Municipalities of the Philippines,and other stakeholders, shall promulgate the rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act, within one hundred eighty (180) days from its effectivity.SEC. 14. Separability Clause. - If, for any reason, any section or provision of this Act is held unconstitutional or invalid, the other sections or provisions hereof shall not be affected thereby.SEC. 15. Repealing Clause. - Section 11 of Republic Act No. 7432, as amended by Republic Act No. 9257 and further amended by Republic Act No. 9994, is hereby repealed. All other laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations, and other issuances or parts thereof, that are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.SEC. 16. Effecitivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,

This Act which originated in the House of Representatives was passed by the House of Representatives as House Bill No. 8837 on January 29, 2019 and adopted by the Senate of the Philippines as an amendment to Senate Bill No. 2159 on May 20, 2019.      

Approved: JUL 25 2019

(SGD.) RODRIGO ROA DUTERTE    President of the Philippines   

Source: Supreme Court E-Library