Senior Citizens Party-list Representative Rodolfo “Ompong” Ordanes has filed a bill seeking income tax exemption for senior citizens who remain part of the workforce, offering financial relief to elderly Filipinos still earning a living.

House Bill No. 2563, titled the “Income Tax Exemption for Senior Citizens Act,” proposes that Filipinos aged 60 and above earning P800,000 or below annually be exempted from paying income tax.

The measure covers senior citizens employed in full-time, part-time, contractual, or consultancy roles and extends the exemption to holiday pay, overtime pay, night shift differential, and hazard pay.

“Many senior citizens continue working not because they want to, but because they have to — either to support their families, pay for medicines, or keep up with the rising cost of living. After decades of service to our nation, they deserve relief — not additional financial burdens from income tax deductions,” Ordanes said.

The lawmaker emphasized that elderly workers should not be penalized for remaining productive, calling the proposal a social justice measure.

“If we give tax incentives to corporations and foreign investors, we must also extend these benefits to senior citizens who continue to work with dignity in their later years,” he added.

Under current laws, senior citizens are entitled to discounts and VAT exemptions under the Expanded Senior Citizens Act, but no income tax relief exists for those who continue to work.

Ordanes urged his fellow legislators to support the immediate passage of the bill, noting that more elderly Filipinos are choosing to remain in the workforce.

“Providing senior citizens with tax exemption is a simple yet meaningful way to honor their contribution to our society,” he said.