Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 258

EXPLANATORY NOTE,

Article XV Section 4 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution provides that the family has
the duty to care for its elderly members but the State may also do so through just
programs of social security. It was also provided that the state shail adopt an integrated
and comprehensive approach to health development which shall endeavor to make
essential goods, health and other social services available to all the people at an
affordable cost; that there shall be priority for the needs of the underprivileged, sick,
elderly, disabled, women, and children; and that the State shall endeavor to provide free
medical care to paupers

Record shows that in 2007 there are about 6.5% of the total population are persons
aged 60 years old and above. The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) has projected that
it will grow by around 8.8% of the population and 5% of the elders are considered frail and
weak. With the current population of more or less 110 million and an estimate of 10%
composition of persons 60 years old and above with 5% frail and weak, a little less of
600,000 totally bedridden persons nationwide may be the reasonable dats.

This bill seeks to grant financial assistance of 8,000 annually to all totally bedridden
person. It also mandates to include the totally bedridden persons on all benefits granted
under Republic Act No, 7277, as amended, otherwise known as the Magna Carta for
Persons with Disabilities (PWDs). The implementation will be the coordination of the three
main government agencies namely: DSWD, DOH and DILG

The amount appropriated for the financial assistance will expectedly be added as a
multiplier effect in the economy as the finances will be directly given to all Filipino citizens
who needed the government's subsidy most.

In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bills is earnestly soughtGor._

LEX ANTHONY CRIS A. COLADA
Party-list, AAMBIS-OWA


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
3256

House Bill No.

INTRODUCED BY REP. LEX ANTHONY CRIS A. COLADA

ANACT
GRANTING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO TOTALLY BEDRIDDEN PERSONS IN THE
PHILIPPINES AND PROVIDING FOR FUNDS THEREFOR

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Financial Assistance to
Totally Bedridden Persons Act.”

SEC. 2, Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby the declared policy of the State to
ensure equal protection of rights and provide benefits to bedridden persons in the country,

SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act the following terms shall
define as follows:

(A) Disability refers to a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits
fone or more psychological, physiological, or anatomical function of an
individual or physical activities of such individual,

(B) Person with Disability (PWD) refers to a person unable to perform an activity
in the manner or within the range considered normal for a human being given
his age and sex as a result of suffering from a mental, physical or sensory
impairment.

(C)Bedridden Person refers to a person with disability confined to the bed
because of infirmity or iliness and is unable to leave one's bed, move, or
even sit upright on his own

() Totally Bedridden Person refers to a bedridden person who is dependent on
a caretaker to perform basic functions such as eating, bathing, grooming,
and dental care.

{E) Caretaker refers to the person responsible for the care and management of
the totally bedridden person

(F) Indigent Person refers to a person identified by the City/Municipal Social
Welfare and Development Office based on their references.

(G)Financial Assistance refers to a monetary assistance to a totally bedridden
person

SEC. 4, Health Rights. - The bedridden person has the right to health, which
includes the following

(1) Safe drinking water and adequate sanitation;

(2) Safe, healthy and nutritious food;

(3) Adequate and safe housing; and

(4) Right to proper medical examination, care and hospitalization,


‘+ SEC.5. Qualifications for the Financial Assistance. - To qualify for financial
assistance under this Act, the totally bedridden person must be:

(1) A bona fide resident of the Philippines;

(2) A Person with Disability (PWD) with a valid PWD ID card;

(3) A totally bedridden person for at least one (1) year as certified by a
government doctor; and

(4) Belonging to an indigent indigent family as certified by the Department of
Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) or its local counterpart.

SEC.6. Documentary Requirements. - There shall be preliminary documents and
succeeding documents required in the availment and/or sustenance of the financial
assistance.

The preliminary documentary requirement to claim for the benefits of the financial
assistance shall be as follows:

(1) Medical Certificate from a government doctor;

(2) Certificate of indigency and Case Study Report;

(3) Certificate of Residenc

(4) Proof of life;

{5)Photocopy of Valid ID of the totally bedridden person and claimant of
financial assistance. Claimant should be a family member of the totally
bedridden person within the fourth civil degree of consanguinity or affinity. In
the absence thereof, an authorization letter from the totally bedridden person
stating that he or she is authorizing the claimant to process the claim of his or
her financial assistance.

(6) A whole body photograph of the totally bedridden person taken within the last
(3) months.

For the purpose of claiming the succeeding financial assistance, the folowing
subsequent document shall be submitted by the totally bedridden person or its
authorized representatives:

(1) Proof of life;

(2) Certification that the claimant undergoes regular health monitoring:

(3) Monitoring report as to the medical condition or status of the totally bedridden
person.

SEC. 7. Financial Assistance. - A qualified bedridden person shali be entitled to
receive the amount of not more than Two Thousand Pesos (Php 2,000.00) quarterly,
depending on the assessment of the DSWD.

SEC. 8. Additional Benefits. - A bedridden person shall be free of charge in the
laboratory fees, medical examinations, and admissions in all public hospitals and shall
receive all kinds of benefits provided in Republic Act No. 7277, otherwise known as
“Magna Carta for Disabled Persons" as amended by Republic Act No. 9442 otherwise
known as “An Act Amending Republic Act No. 7277, Otherwise Known As The "Magna
Carta For Disabled Persons, And For Other Purposes” and further amended by Republic
Act No. 10070, “An Act Establishing an Institutional Mechanism to Ensure the
Implementation of Programs and Services For Persons With Disabilities in Every Province,
City and Municipality, Amending Republic Act No. 7277, otherwise known as the "Magna
Carta For Disabled Persons", As Amended, And For Other Purposes”,

SEC. 8. Roles of Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), the
Department of Health (DOH) and DSWD. - The DILG, DOH and DSWD shall jointly:



4. Determine and update the number of totally bedridden persons in all provinces,
cities and municipalities; and

2. Disseminate the information as to the grants and benefits provided for in this
Act;

‘The DOH shall:

(4) Monitor the medical condition/status of the totally bedridden person and submit
his or her quarterly report to the DSWD.

(2) issue medical certificate based on the actual medical condition/status of the
totally bedridden person and on the quarterly monitoring report.

The DSWD shall:

(1) Prepare the case study report on the totally bedridden person and assess the
documentary requirements submitted.

(2) Receive the quarterly report from the DOH of the medical condition/status of
the totally bedridden person/s from their respective barangays.

(3) Assess the monitoring report for the succeeding quarterly claims for financial
assistance.

(4) Assist the claimanv/family of the totally bedridden person in processing the
Persons with Disability Identification Card (PWD ID) of the totaily bedridden
person.

(5) Approve the release of the financial assistance to those qualified bedridden
persons, subject to compliance with the accounting and auditing rules and
regulations.

SEC. 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The DSWD, DILG and DOH shail,
within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this Act, promulgate rules and regulations for
the effective implementation of this Act.

SEC. 10. Appropriation. - The sum of Five billion pesos (P5,000,000,000.00) is
hereby appropriated for the initial implementation of this Act. Subsequent funds shall be
included in the Annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 11. Separability Clause. - If any part or provision of this Act is held invalid, ail
the other provisions nol affected thereby, shall continue to be in full force and effect.

SEC. 12. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, resolutions, instructions
and rules and regulations or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby
deemed repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 13. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shail take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in al least one (1) newspaper of general circulation