The implementation of Republic Act No. 9257 otherwise known as the “Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2003” will finally take place on July 6, 2010 – 15 days after the complete publication of the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) in at least two national newspapers of general circulation last June 22, 2010.

As a public service to fellow senior citizens of the country, I am sharing some of the salient provisions of the IRR and RA No. 9257, as follows:

1. Senior citizen or elderly refers to “any Filipino citizen who is a resident of the Philippines, and who is sixty (60) years old or above. It may apply to senior citizens with “dual citizenship” status provided they prove their Filipino citizenship and have at least six (6) months residency in the Philippines.

2. As to the identification document or proof of being a senior citizen which may be used for the availment of benefits and privileges under the Expanded Senior Citizen Act, it is provided in Rule III, Article V of the IRR that: “Identification Document – refers to any document or proof of being a senior citizen which may be used for the availment of benefits and privileges under the Act and its Rules. It shall be any of the following:

a) Senior Citizens’ Identification Card issued by the Office of Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) in the city or municipality where the elderly resides; b) The Philippine passport of the elderly person or senior citizen concerned; and c) Other valid documents that establish the senior citizen or elderly person as a citizen of the Republic and at least sixty (60) years of age, which shall include but not be limited to the following government-issued identification documents indicating an elderly’s birthdate or age: driver’s license, voters ID, SSS/GSIS ID, PRC card, postal ID.

3. On the other hand, Rule IV, Article 6 of the IRR provides: “OSCA-issued Senior Citizens’ Identification Card. – For the availment of benefits and privileges under the Act and these Rules, the senior citizen, or his/her duly authorized representative, shall present as proof of eligibility, a valid and original Senior Citizens’ Identification Card issued by the Head of the Office of Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) of the place where the senior citizen resides, and which shall be honored nationwide.”

4. Here is a list of privileges for the senior citizens as summarized in the recently-published IRR (Article 7):-

“Section 1. MEDICAL-RELATED PRIVILEGES

(a) Medicine and drug purchases – the 20% discount and VAT exemption shall apply to the purchase of generic or branded medicines and drugs by or for senior citizens, including the purchase of influenza and pneumococcal vaccines. The 20% discount and VAT exemption shall also be granted to the purchase of vitamins and mineral supplements which are medically prescribed by an attending physician for prevention and treatment of diseases, illness or injury.

(b) Essential Medical Supplies, Accessories and Equipment – The 20% discount and VAT exemption privilege shall also apply to the purchase of eyeglasses, hearing aids, dentures, prosthetics, artificial bone replacements like steel, walkers, crutches, wheelchairs whether manual or electric-powered, canes/quad canes, geriatric diapers, and other essential medical supplies, accessories and equipment by or for senior citizens.

The purchases under Sections 1 (a) and (b) from drug stores, hospital pharmacies, medical and optical clinics and similar establishments including non-traditional outlets dispensing medicines, shall be subject to guidelines that shall be issued by the DoH within thirty (30) days from effectivity of these Rules, in coordination with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PHILHEALTH). Said guidelines shall also indicate what constitutes discounted essential medical supplies, accessories and equipment as contemplated by Section  1(b), and will be subjected to a regular review as deemed necessary in keeping with the changes, demands and needs of senior citizens.

The guidelines issued by the DoH, in consultation with the DoF and the BIR, shall also establish mechanisms of compulsory rebates in the sharing of burden of discounts among retailers, manufacturers, and distributors, taking into consideration their respective margins. When necessary, the DoF and the BIR shall come up with the appropriate Revenue Regulations for this purpose.

(c) Medical and Dental Services in Private Facilities – Medical and dental services, diagnostic and laboratory tests such as but not limited to X-Rays, computerized tomography scans, and blood tests, that are requested by a physician as necessary for the diagnosis and/or treatment of an illness or injury are subject to the 20% discount and VAT exemption.

(d) Professional Fees of Attending Physician/s in all private hospitals, medical facilities, outpatient clinics and home health care facilities shall be subject to the 20% discount and VAT exemption.

(e) Professional Fees of Licensed Health Workers Providing Home Health Care Services as endorsed by private hospitals or employed through home health care employment agencies are entitled to the 20% discount and VAT exemption. The burden of the discount shall be borne solely by the employment agency given the health worker’s very minimal share compared to the agency fee.

(To be continued)

Have a joyful day!