REPUBLIC ACT No.

5921 AN ACT REGULATING THE PRACTICE OF PHARMACY AND SETTING STANDARDS OF PHARMACEUTICAL EDUCATION IN THE PHILIPPINES AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. ARTICLE 1 Objectives and Implementation Section 1. Objectives. This Act provides for and shall govern (a) the standardization and regulation of pharmaceutical education; (b) the examination for registration of graduates of schools of pharmacy and (c) the supervision, control and regulation of the practice of pharmacy in the Philippines. Section 2. Enforcement. For the purposes of implementing the provisions of this Act, the Council of Pharmaceutical Education and the Board of Pharmacy are hereby created. ARTICLE II The Council of Pharmaceutical Education Section 3. The Council of Pharmaceutical Education and its composition. The Council of Pharmaceutical Education shall be composed of the Secretary of Education, Chairman, the Undersecretary of Health Services, the Food and Drug Administrator, the Chairman of the Board of Pharmacy, the dean of the College of Pharmacy, University of the Philippines, the dean of a college of pharmacy, representing duly accredited private schools of pharmacy, and a representative of the bona fide national pharmaceutical organizations in the Philippines. It shall be incumbent upon all deans of duly accredited colleges of pharmacy of private colleges and universities by agreement among themselves to promulgate rules and regulations regarding the selection of one from among their group to represent them in the said Council and it shall be incumbent upon all presidents of bona fide national pharmaceutical organizations in the Philippines by agreement to promulgate rules and regulations regarding the selection of one from among them to represent them in the said Council. The members of the Council shall hold office until their successors have been appointed, elected or designated and duly qualified. Section 4. Functions. The functions of the Council of Pharmaceutical Education shall be: (a) To promulgate rules and regulations relative to Pharmaceutical Education in the Philippines; (b) To submit such rules and regulations, which shall have a binding effect, for implementation to the proper agencies such as Department of Education, the Board of Pharmacy, the bona fide national pharmaceutical organizations in the Philippines and others; (c) To recognize and accredit colleges of pharmacy in the different private colleges and universities; and (d) To approve the accreditation of community or prescription pharmacies, pharmaceutical manufacturing laboratories and hospital pharmacies for purposes of pharmacy internship.

Section 5. Meetings and traveling expenses. The Council of Pharmaceutical Education shall meet at least once a month for regular business and as often as the Council may decide. The Chairman and members of the Council of Pharmaceutical Education shall not be entitled to any compensation except for traveling expenses in connection with their official duties as herein provided. ARTICLE III The Board of Pharmacy and Examination and Registration of Pharmacists Section 6. The Board of Pharmacy and its Composition. The Board of Pharmacy shall be composed of a Chairman and two members who shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines with the consent of the Commission of Appointments, from a list of nominees recommended by the Commissioner of Civil Service who shall secure such lists from bona fide professional national organizations of pharmacists which should be certified in accordance with Republic Act Numbered Five hundred forty-six. Section 7. Qualification of Board members. To be appointed a member of the Board of Pharmacy, a person shall be: (a) A natural born citizen of the Philippines; (b) A duly registered pharmacist and has been in the practice of pharmacy for at least ten years; (c) Of good moral character and of recognized standing in the pharmaceutical profession; (d) At the time of appointment, not a member of the faculty of any school, college or university offering courses in pharmacy; nor have any direct or indirect pecuniary interests in such school or college of pharmacy; and (e) A member of good standing of any bona fide national pharmaceutical association of the Philippines. Section 8. Tenure of office and fees of board members. The Chairman and members of the Board of Pharmacy shall hold office for three years after appointment or until their successors shall have been appointed and duly qualified: Provided, That members of the first Board to be appointed after the approval of this Act shall hold office for the following terms: Chairman for three years, one member for two years and one member for one year:Provided, further, That any chairman or member may be reappointed for another term of three years but in no case shall be serve continuously for more than six years. The most senior member of the Board shall automatically be the Chairman. The Chairman and members of the Board shall each receive the sum of ten pesos for each applicant examined regardless of whether or not he is already in the government service when appointed. Section 9. Removal of the Board members. The chairman or member of the Board may be removed by the President of the Philippines if found guilty of neglect of duty, incompetence, malpractice, or unprofessional, unethical, immoral, or dishonorable conduct, after having been given the opportunity to defend himself in a proper administrative investigation. The President may in his discretion suspend such member under investigation:Provided, however, That the period of suspension shall not exceed sixty days after which the latter shall be automatically reinstated pending the outcome of the investigation.

Section 10. Executive Officer of the Board. The Commissioner of Civil Service shall be the Executive Officer of the Board and shall conduct the examination given by it according to the rules and regulations promulgated by him and approved by the President of the Philippines. The Secretary of the Board of Examiners in accordance with Republic Act Numbered Five hundred and forty six shall also be the Secretary of the Board. To assist both officials, there shall be appointed from the ranking employees of the Board of Examiners, an Assistant Secretary, a Legal Officer and a Records Officer with compensation of eight thousand eight hundred thirty-two pesos, seven thousand two hundred thirty-six pesos and five thousand nine hundred twenty-eight pesos, respectively who may also perform identical functions for the other existing examination boards. All the records of the Board including examination papers, minutes of deliberation and records of administrative proceedings shall be kept by the Secretary of the Board. Section 11. Powers and duties of the Board. The Board of Pharmacy, conformably with the provisions of this Act is vested with authority: (a) To examine applicants for the practice of pharmacy; (b) To issue certificates of registration or pharmacists. (c) To reprimand any pharmacist or to suspend or revoke his certificate of registration on the grounds as provided for in Section thirteen hereof, after a formal administrative investigation has been conducted by it. (d) To promulgate from time to time the necessary rules and regulations for the effective enforcement of this Act, subject to the approval of the President upon advice of the Commissioner of Civil Service; (e) To study the conditions affecting the practice of pharmacy in the Philippines; (f) To check the employment of qualified personnel in drug stores, hospital pharmacies, drug or pharmaceutical laboratories, cosmetic laboratories and similar establishments for which the Board may designate inspectors from the Board of Pharmacy; and (g) To encourage the development of botanical gardens and their inspection particularly the propagation of Philippine medicinal plants with the cooperation of the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Section 12. Detailmen, requirements, qualifications and fees. Any person who shall be employed as detailman by any pharmaceutical or drug laboratory or other manufacturers of medical, dental pharmaceutical, biological and veterinary products and by distributors, dealers or wholesalers of said products, doing business directly or indirectly in the Philippines, shall be required, at the beginning of each year, to register with the Board of Pharmacy that he is employed as such. (a) An applicant for registration shall be, preferably, a graduate of a college of pharmacy. There shall be an initial fee of twenty pesos upon registration and thereafter fifteen pesos shall be charged annually for renewal. Upon payment of said fees, the proper credential shall be issued to the applicant.

(b) It shall be incumbent upon the drug establishments referred to in this section to require that detailmen employed or to be employed by them possess the necessary credentials issued by the Board of Pharmacy as provided for herein. For purposes of this section, a detailman is one who represents any duly authorized manufacturer, dealer, distributor, representative or wholesaler of drugs, pharmaceuticals, biologic products and devices, whose primary duty is to introduce or reacquaint a product or products prepared, distributed or made by said manufacturers, dealer, distributor, representative or wholesaler to the physician, dentist, pharmacist, veterinarian or any other qualified person and which forms part of their program for promotion by describing its use, composition, action, dosage, administration, contra-indication, advantages and other salient information relative to said drug, pharmaceutical, biological product or device. Section 13. Grounds for reprimand, suspension or revocation of registrant certificate. Any of the following shall be sufficient ground for reprimanding a pharmacist, or for suspending or revoking his certificate of registration: (a) Conviction by a court of competent jurisdiction of any violation as penalized in sections forty and forty-one hereof; (b) Immoral or dishonorable conduct which includes conviction by a competent court of any criminal offense involving moral turpitude; (c) Fraud or deceit in the acquisition of the certificate of registration; (d) Gross negligence, ignorance or incompetence in the practice of his profession resulting in the injury damage or death of another; (e) Malpractice, including aiding or abetting the commission of criminal abortion or sex crimes through illegal compounding, dispensing or sale of abortive or sex drugs as the case may be; (f) Acting as a dummy of an alien or of a person who is not qualified to establish and operate a retail drugstore; (g) Addiction to alcoholic beverage or to any habit-forming drug rendering him incompetent to practice his profession; (h) Insanity; (i) False or extravagant or unethical advertisements wherein other things than his name, profession, limitation of practice, office and home address and the like are mentioned; and (j) Violations of any provision of the Code of Ethics which may be adopted as part of the Rules and Regulations of the Board. Section 14. Administrative Investigation. Administrative investigations shall be conducted by all the members of the Board sitting en banc. The existing rules of evidence shall be observed as far as practicable during administrative investigations.

If the Board, by majority vote of the members, shall find that the charges are sustained by evidence adduced, it may at its discretion reprimand the respondent or revoke or suspend his certificate of registration. In case of suspension, it shall be for a period of not more than six months. Where the certificate of registration has been revoked as herein provided, the Board may, after the expiration of six months and upon application, issue a new certificate of registration in place of a revoked certificate without the necessity of undergoing any examination if the respondent in the meanwhile has conducted himself in an exemplary manner. Section 15. Procedure and rules. The Board of Pharmacy upon receipt of a formal complaint under oath against any pharmacist, shall furnish the latter a copy of the complaint which he shall answer within ten days from receipt hereof. If the Board of Pharmacy, after careful study of the records, finds that there is a valid grounds to the charge it shall conduct a formal investigation setting the dates of hearing thereof. For this purpose, a subpoena or subpoena duces tecum may be issued by the Chairman of the Board. The proceedings shall at all times be recorded. The investigation shall be terminated and resolved within ninety days from the time of the first date of hearing has been set and heard. Section 16. Right of respondent. The respondent pharmacist shall be entitled to be heard by himself or be represented by counsel; to have a speedy and public hearing to confront and to cross-examine witnesses against him; to summon and present witnesses in his behalf; and to any other process for the protection of his individual or civil rights. Section 17. Appeal from judgment. The decision of the Board of Pharmacy shall automatically become final thirty days from notice to respondent, unless the latter after receipt of the decision and within the same period has appealed to the President of the Philippines. Section 18. Candidate for board examination.

REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9257 February 26, 2004 AN ACT GRANTING ADDITIONAL BENEFITS AND PRIVILEGES TO SENIOR CITIZENS AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7432, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS "AN ACT TO MAXIMIZE THE CONTRIBUTION OF SENIOR CITIZENS TO NATION BUILDING, GRANT BENEFITS AND SPECIAL PRIVILEGES AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES" Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled: Section 1. This Act shall be known as the "Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2003." SECTION 2. Republic Act. No. 7432 is hereby amended to read as follows: "Section 1. Declaration of Policies and Objectives. Pursuant to Article XV, Sec. 4 of the Constitution, 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. In addition to this, Sec. 10 in the Declaration of Principles and State Policies provides: "The State shall provide social justice in all phases of national development." Further, Article XIII, Sec. 11 provides: " The State shall adopt an integrated and comprehensive approach to health and other social services available to all the people at affordable cost. There shall be priority for the needs of the underpriviledged, sick, elderly, disabled, women and children." Consonant with these constitution principles the following are the declared policies of this Act:

(a) To motivate and encourage the senior citizens to contribute to nation building; (b) To encourage their families and the communities they live with to reaffirm the valued Filipino tradition of caring for the senior citizens; (c) To give full support to the improvement of the total well-being of the elderly and their full participation in society considering that senior citizens are integral part of Philippine society; (d) To recognize the rights of senior citizens to take their proper place in society. This must be the concern of the family, community, and government; (e) To provide a comprehensive health care and rehabilitation system for disabled senior citizens to foster their capacity to attain a more meaningful and productive ageing; and (f) To recognize the important role of the private sector in the improvement of the welfare of senior citizens and to actively seek their partnership. In accordance with these policies, this Act aims to: (1) establish mechanism whereby the contribution of the senior citizens are maximized; (2) adopt measures whereby our senior citizens are assisted and appreciated by the community as a whole; (3) establish a program beneficial to the senior citizens, their families and the rest of the community that they serve; and (4) establish community-based health and rehabilitation programs in every political unit of society." "Sec. 2. Definition of Terms. For purposes of this Act, these terms are defined as follows: (a) "Senior citizen" or "elderly" shall mean any resident citizen of the Philippines at least sixty (60) years old; (b) "Benefactor" shall mean any person whether related to the senior citizens or not who takes care of him/her as a dependent; (c) "Head of the family" shall mean any person so defined in the National Internal Revenue Code, as amended; and (d) "Geriatrics" shall refer to the branch of medical science devoted to the study of the biological and physical changes and the diseases of old age." "Sec. 3. Contribution to the Community. Any qualified senior citizen as determined by the Office for Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) may render his/her services to the community which shall consist of, but not limited to, any of the following: (a) Tutorial and/or consultancy services; (b) Actual teaching and demonstration of hobbies and income generating skills; (c) Lectures on specialized fields like agriculture, health, environment protection and the like;

(d) The transfer of new skills acquired by virtue of their training mentioned in Sec. 4, paragraph (d); and (e) Undertaking other appropriate services as determined by the Office for Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) such as school traffic guide, tourist aide, pre-school assistant, etc. In consideration of the services rendered by the qualified elderly, the Office for Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) may award or grant benefits or privileges to the elderly, in addition to the other privileges provided for under this Act." "Sec. 4. Privileges for the Senior Citizens. The senior citizens shall be entitled to the following: (a) the grant of twenty percent (20%) discount from all establishments relative to the utilization of services in hotels and similar lodging establishment, restaurants and recreation centers, and purchase of medicines in all establishments for the exclusive use or enjoyment of senior citizens, including funeral and burial services for the death of senior citizens; (b) a minimum of twenty percent (20%) discount on admission fees charged by theaters, cinema houses and concert halls, circuses, carnivals, and other similar places of culture, leisure and amusement for the exclusive use or enjoyment of senior citizens; (c. exemption from the payment of individual income taxes: Provided, That their annual taxable income does not exceed the poverty level as determined by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) for that year; (d) exemption from training fees for socioeconomic programs; (e) free medical and dental service, diagnostic and laboratory fees such as, but not limited to, x-rays, computerized tomography scans and blood tests, in all government facilities, subject to the guidelines to be issued by the Department of Health in coordination with the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PHILHEALTH); (f) the grant of twenty percent (20%) discount on medical and dental services, and diagnostic and laboratory fees provided under Sec. 4 (e) hereof, including professional fees of attending doctors in all private hospitals and medical facilities, in accordance with the rules and regulations to be issued by the Department of Health, in coordination with the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation; (g) the grant of twenty percent (20%) discount in fare for domestic air and sea travel for the exclusive use or enjoyment of senior citizens; (h) the grant of twenty percent (20%) discount in public railways, skyways and bus fare for the exclusive use and enjoyment of senior citizens; (i) educational assistance to senior citizens to pursue post secondary, tertiary, post tertiary, as well as vocational or technical education in both public and private schools through provision of scholarship, grants, financial aid subsidies and other incentives to qualified senior citizens, including support for books, learning materials, and uniform allowance, to the extent feasible: Provided, That senior citizens shall meet minimum admission requirement; (j) to the extent practicable and feasible, the continuance of the same benefits and privileges given by the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), Social Security System (SSS) and PAG-IBIG, as the case may be, as are enjoyed by those in actual service.

(k) retirement benefits of retirees from both the government and private sector shall be regularly reviewed to ensure their continuing responsiveness and sustainability, and to the extent practicable and feasible, shall be upgraded to be at par with the current scale enjoyed by those in actual service. (l) to the extent possible, the government may grant special discounts in special programs for senior citizens on purchase of basic commodities, subject to the guidelines to be issued for the purpose by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Department of Agriculture (DA); and (m) provision of express lanes for senior citizens in all commercial and government establishments; in the absence thereof, priority shall be given to them. In the availment of the privileges mentioned above, the senior citizen or elderly person may submit as proof of his/her entitlement thereto any of the following: (a) an ID issued by the city or municipal mayor or of the barangay captain of the place where the senior citizen or the elderly resides; (b) the passport of the elderly person or senior citizen concerned; and (c) other documents that establish that the senior citizen or elderly person is a citizen of the Republic and is at least sixty (60) years of age. The establishment may claim the discounts granted under (a), (f), (g) and (h) as tax deduction based on the net cost of the goods sold or services rendered: Provided That the cost of the discount shall be allowed as deduction from gross income for the same taxable year that the discount is granted. Provided, further, That the total amount of the claimed tax deduction net of value added tax if applicable, shall be included in their gross sales receipts for tax purposes and shall be subject to proper documentation and to the provisions of the National Internal Revenue Code, as amended." "Sec. 5. Government Assistance. The Government shall provided the following: (a) Employment Senior citizens who have the capacity and desire to work, or be re-employed, shall be provided information and matching services to enable them to be productive members of society. Terms of employments shall conform with the provisions of the labor code, as amended, and other laws, rules and regulations. Private entities that will employ senior citizens as employees upon effectivity of this Act, shall be entitled to an additional deduction from their gross income, equivalent to fifteen percent (15%) of the total amount paid as salaries and wages to senior citizens subject to the provision of Sec. 34 of the National Internal Revenue Code, as amended: Provided, however, That such employment shall continue for a period of at least six (6) months: Provider, further, that the annual income of a senior citizen does not exceed he poverty level as determined by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) for that year. The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), in coordination with other government agencies such as, but not limited to, the Technology and Livelihood Resource Center (TLRC) and the Department and Trade and Industry (DTI), shall assess, design and implement training programs that will provide skills and welfare or livelihood support for senior citizens. (b) Education

The Department of Education (DepEd), Technical Education and Skill Development Authority (TESDA) and the Commission and Higher Education (CHED), in consultation of non-government organizations (NGOs) and people's organizations (Pos) for senior citizen, shall institute a program that will ensure access to formal and non-formal education. (c) Health The Department of Health (DOH), in coordination with local government units (LGUs), nongovernment organizations (NGOs) and people's organizations (Pos) for senior citizens, shall institute a national health program and shall provide an integrated health service for senior citizens. It shall train community-based health workers among senior citizens and health personnel to specialize in the geriatric care health problems of senior citizens. (d) Social Services The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), in cooperation with the Office for Senior Citizen affairs (OSCA) and the local government units, non-government organizations and peoples organizations for senior citizens, shall develop and implement programs on social services for senior citizens, the components of which are: (1) "self and social enhancement services" which provide senior citizens opportunities for socializing, organizing, creative expression, and improvement of self; (2)" after care and follow-up services" which provide senior citizen who are discharged from the home/institutions for the aged, especially those who have problems of reintegration with family and community, wherein both the senior citizens and their families are provided with counseling; (3)"neighborhood support services: wherein the community/family members provide care giving services to their frail, sick, or bedridden senior citizens; and (4) "substitute family care" in the form of residential care/group homes for the abandoned, neglected, unattached or homeless senior citizens and those incapable of self-care. The grant of at least fifty percent (50%) discount for the consumption of electricity, water and telephone by the senior citizens center and residential care/group homes that are non-stock, nonprofit domestic corporation organized and operated exclusively for the purpose of promoting of wellbeing of abandoned, neglected, unattached, or homeless senior citizens. (e) Housing The national government shall include in its national shelter program the special housing needs of senior citizens, such as establishment of housing units for the elderly; (f) Access to Public Transport The Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) shall develop a program to assist senior citizens to fully gain access in the use of public transport facilities. Further, the government shall provide the following assistance to those caring for and living with the senior citizens:

(a)The senior citizen shall be treated as dependents provided for in the National Inter Revenue Code, as amended, and as such, individual taxpayers caring for them, be they relatives or not shall be accorded the privileges granted by the Code insofar as having dependents are concerned. (b)Individuals or non-government institutions establishing homes, residential communities or retirement villages solely for the senior citizens shall be accorded the following: (1) realty tax holiday for the first five (5) years starting from the first year of operation; (2) priority in the building and/or maintenance of the provincial or municipal roads leading to the aforesaid home, residential community or retirement village." "Sec. 6. The Office for Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA). There shall be established in all cities and municipalities an OSCA to be headed by a senior citizen who shall be appointed by the mayor for a term of three (3) years without reappointment from a list of three (3) nominees of the sangguniang panlungsod or the sangguniang bayan. The head of the OSCA shall be assisted by the City Social Welfare and Development Officer or the municipal social welfare and development officer, in coordination with the Social Welfare and Development Office. The Office of the Mayor shall exercise supervision over the OSCA relative to their plans, activities and programs for senior citizens. The OSCA shall work together and establish linkages with accredited NGOs, Pos, and the barangays in their respective areas. The office for senior citizens affairs shall have the following functions: (a) To plan, implement and monitor yearly work programs in pursuance of the objectives of this Act; (b) To draw up a list of available and required services which can provided by the senior citizens; (c) To maintain and regularly update on a quarterly basis the list of senior citizens and to issue nationally uniform individual identification cards, free of charge, which be valid anywhere in the country; (d) To service as a general information and liaison center to serve the needs of the senior citizens; (e) To monitor compliance of the provisions of this Act particularly the grant of special discounts and privileges to senior citizens; (f) To report to the mayor, establishment found violating any provision of this Act; and (g) To assist the senior citizens in filing complaints or charges against any establishment, institution, or agency refusing to comply with the privileges under this Act before the Department of Justice or the provincial, city or municipal trial court." "Sec. 7. Municipal/ City Responsibility. It shall be the responsibility of the municipal/city through the mayor to require all establishment covered by this Act to prominently display posters, stickers, and other notices that will generate public awareness of the right and privileges of senior citizens and to ensure that the provisions of this Act are implemented to its fullest." "Sec. 8. Partnership of the National and Local Government Units. The national government and local government units shall explore livelihood opportunities and other undertaking to enhance the wellbeing of senior citizens. The shall encourage the establishment of grassroots organizations for the elderly in their respective territorial jurisdictions."

"Sec. 9 Support for Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs). Non-governmental organizations or private volunteer organizations dedicated to the promotions, enhancement and support of the welfare of senior citizens are hereby encouraged to become partners of government in the implementation of program and projects for the elderly. According, the government shall recognize the vital role of NGOs in complementing the government in the delivery of services to senior citizens. It shall likewise encourage NGOs for the senior citizens to develop innovative service models and pilots projects and to assist in the duplication of successful examples of these models elsewhere in the country. "Sec. 10. Penalties. Any person who violates any provision of this Act shall suffer the following penalties: (1) For the first violation, a fine of not less than Fifty thousand pesos (P50,000.00) but not exceeding One hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00) and imprisonment of not less than six (6) months but not more than two (2) years; and (2) For any subsequent violation, a fine of not less than One hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00) but exceeding Two hundred thousand pesos (P200,000.00) and imprisonment for not less than two (2) years but not less than six (6) years. Any person who abuses the privileges granted herein shall be punished with a fine of not less than Five thousand pesos (P5,000.00) but not more than Fifty thousand pesos (P50,000.00), and imprisonment of not less than six (6) months. If the offender is a corporation, organization or any similar entity, the official thereof directly involved shall be liable therefore. If the offender is an alien or a foreigner, he shall be deported immediately after service of sentence without further deportation proceedings. Upon filling an appropriate complaint, and after due notice and hearing, the proper authorities may also cause the cancellation or revocation of the business permit, permit to operate, franchise and other similar privileges granted to any business entity that fails to abide by the provisions of this Act." "Sec. 11. Monitoring and Coordinating Mechanism. A monitoring and coordinating mechanism shall be established to be chaired by the DSWD, with the assistance of the Department of Justice (DOJ), Department of Health (DOH), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and five (5) accredited NGOs representing but not limited to, women, urban poor, rural poor, and the veterans." "Sec. 12. Implementing Rules and Regulations. The Secretary of Social Welfare and Development, within sixty (60) days from the approval of this Act, shall promulgate the implementing, rules and regulations for the effective implementation of the provisions of this Act. In consultation and coordination with the following agencies and offices: (a) Department of Health; (b) Department of Labor and Employment; (c) Department of Education; (d) Depart of Transportation and Communications; (e) Department of Justice;

(f) Department of Interior and Local Government; (g) Department of Trade and Industry; (h) Department of Finance; (i) Commission of Higher Education; (j) Technical Education and Skills Development Authority; (k) National Economic and Development Authority; (l) Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council; and (m) Five (5) non-governmental organizations of people's organizations for the senior citizens duly accredited by the DSWD." Sec. 13. Appropriation. The necessary appropriation for the operation and maintenance of the OSCA shall be appropriated and approved by the local government units concerned. The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act upon its effectivity shall be charged out of the funds of the Office of the President. Thereafter, any such sum as shall be needed for the regular implementation of this Act shall be included in subsequent General Appropriations Act following its enactment into law." SECTION 3. 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. SECTION 4. 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 such action shall not affect the enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Act. SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete publication in any two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.

Approved: FRANKLIN DRILON President of the Senate JOSE DE VENECIA JR. Speaker of the House of Representatives

This Act, which is a consolidation of Senate Bill No. 2395 and House Bill No. 5987, was finally passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives on December 16, 2003. OSCAR G. YABES Secretary of Senate ROBERTO P. NAZARENO Secretary General House of Represenatives Approved: February 26, 2004

GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO President of the Philippines