FIFTEENTH CONGRESS 
) 
CONGRESS OF THE PI-fILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
) 
'11 
OCT -4 
Senate Bill No. 
2982 
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Introduced by Senator Edgardo 1. Angara 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
As of20 I 0, the Philippines' senior citizens totaled 6.4 million, accounting for 6.8 percent of our 
entire population of 94 million. Projections based on our national census show that by 2020, 
Filipinos ages 60 and older would number 9.7 million or 8.7 percent of our population. By 2040, 
our elderly will total 19.6 million, making up for 13.8 percent of the population, or a 208 percent 
growth n'om the present. 
Our population remains relatively young-26.6 years on average in 20 II. In comparison, the 
people of advanced economies are much older. The citizens of Monaco are the oldest in the 
world on average at 49.4 years, followed by the Germans at 44.9 years and Japan at 44.8 years. 
The Philippines is still generations away from that situation but our population will age 
inevitably. By 2030, the median age of Filipinos will bc 33.3 according to the National 
Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB). 
The challenges confronting the developed world today will be the developing world's problems 
in the future. A graying population is one of these major disruptive dcmographics. 
Our pension systcm will be under increasing pressure as our popUlation becomes grayer. The 
traditional model followcd by most pension systems will have to take into account prevailing 
trends oflonger lifespans and declining fertility rates. As more and more retirees live longer, 
pcnsion costs will risc accordingly. This will increase the burden on a smaller working 
population who has to support the pension system through their contributions. 
At the same time, society will also have to consider the lifestyle of the future's elderly. Adults 
today tend to remain active through their advanced years. This will have enormous implications 
on our infrastructure, particularly our health facilities and transportation systems. The elderly 
will also soon be a major market. Consumer and recreational products would have to be tailor-
fitted to their needs and wants. 
Most importantly, many elderly, especially in developing countries like the Philippines, are 
vulnerable to poverty. According to the NSCB, 16.2 percent of our senior citizens were destitute 
in 2006, 1.2 percent higher than in 2003. 
We should take advantage of the benefits of a young population while we still can-as well as 
start preparing for an unavoidable future. 
Advancements in healthcare, medicine and nutrition are enabling people to live longer. Most 
people only lived to 47 years at the turn of the 20th century. Today, Filipino men can expect to 


live up 67 years while women 72.5 years on average. The NSCB adds that from 2010 to 2015, 
life expectancy at birth will increase by 3.6 months every year. 
Groundbreaking research in neuroscience, gene therapy and stem cell technology are prolonging 
lifespans even more. An emerging field of research called "smart aging" will help make longer 
years productive ones too. 
This measure seeks to establish the Philippine Institute [or Aging, our very own science and 
research-oriented think-tank that will study aging and the aged as an integrated, 
multidisciplinary field responsive to the present and prospective needs of our own population. 
Furthermore, the Philippine Institute [or Aging will lead in changing our attitudes toward this 
phenomenon. Aging should no longer be seen as an impediment to living one's life to the fullest. 
Indeed, living should not stop when we get older; only become even more enriching and 
fulfilling. It is the institute's goal to help all Filipinos attain longer and better years. 
In view of the foregoing, the passage ofthis bill is earnestly sought 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS 
) 
CONGRESS OF THE PI-IILlPPINES ) 
First Regula I' Session 
) 
"II 
OCT -4 
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. ___________________ s_c_na_tc_,_B_ill_N_O_. ___ 2_9 __ 
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Introduced by Senator Edgardo .J. Angara 
AN ACT ESTADLTI-IING TI-IE Pl-lILLIPPINE INSTITUTE FOR AGING, 
])EFII~ING ITS OBJECTIVES, POWERS AND FUNCTIONS, AND FOR 
OTHER PURPOSES 
III' i/ <'/Joc/ed by rhe Senore CInd House of Representorives ofrhe Philippines il1 
CUl7gl·ess assembled· 
WIll.m.EAS, Article JI, Section 15 of the 1987 Constitution, states that the 
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State shall protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill 
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health consciousness among them. 
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WIII~REAS, Article XII!, Section 2 provides that "The State shall adopt an 
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integrated and comprehensive approach to health development which shall 
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cndeavor to make essential goods, health and other social services available 
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to all the people at affordable cost. There shall be priority for the needs of 
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the underprivileged, sick, elderly, disabled, women and children." 
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WIII]{EAS, Article XV, Section 4 provides that while the family has the 
duty to carc lor its elderly mcmbers, the State may also do so through just 
programs of" social security. 
Section I. Title. - This Act shall be known as the" Philippine Institute for 
Aging Act of 20 II." 
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Section 2. Policies and Objectives. -- Consonant with the above-mentioned 
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Constitutional mandate, this Act is aimed to: 
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a) Motivate and encourage the senior citizens to contribute to nation 
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building; 
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b) I~ncourage their families and communities they live with to reaffirm 
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the valued Filipino tradition of caring lor the senior citizens. 
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Section 3. 711e Philippine institute for Aging. -
To carry out thesc 
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objectives, a research institute to be known as the Philippine Institute for 
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Aging, ("1'1;\") is hereby created under the University of the Philippines _ 
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Manila, and attached to the National Institute of Health (hereinafter "NIH"). 
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Section 4. Functions (~r the Philippine Institute/or Aging. -- The functions 
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oCthe PIA are: 
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a) Formulatc policy directions and strategies to meet the objectives of 
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this Act; 
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b) Promote and 
conduct SCIence 
and 
technology research and 
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development in aging; 
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c) Find innovative and interdisciplinary solutions to the issues and 
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challenges posed against the elderly population; 
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d) Use and translate technology to advance the health and quality of life 
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of the elderly, and enable them to lead richer lives; 
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e) Foster collaborations with similar academic and research institutions, 
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domestic and abroad; 
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Establish local and foreign linkages; 
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g) Establish mechanisms to disseminate and utilize research outputs; 
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h) Receive and manage grants, aid, donations or any kind of assistance 
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for achieving its objectives, in accordance with. the rules and 
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regulations of the University of the Philippines (hereinafter "UP"); 
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i) Allocate, source and award research grants and training to outstanding 
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individuals in the field of aging, neuroscience, geriatric research, and 
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related fields; 
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j) Complement graduate programs and faculty research human resource 
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training in UP Manila; 
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k) Organize, develop and conduct information campaigns, education and 
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training programs to the public and other stakeholders to advance the 
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goals of this Act; 
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I) Appoint, hire and maintain adequate personnel and/or consultants 
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with suitable qualifications as necessary; 
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111) Propose and aJloeatc the PIA's annual budgetary resources; 
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n) Apprise, advise and coordinate with other government agenCIes, 
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including government owned and controlled corporations and local 
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governments, on any matter relating to the objectives of this Act; and 
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0) Perform all other acts as may be necessary to achieve its objectives 
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and functions, in accordance with the rules and regulations of UP. 
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Section 6. Public-Private Partnerships. - To enable the PIA to perform its 
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i'unctions, the institute shall be empowered to enter into agreements with the 
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public and private sector that: 
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I) Create collaborations to develop technologies, business solutions and 
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infrastructures that allow the elderly to live richer, fuller lives; 
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2) Leverage public and private sector support for early stage research 
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and development of technologies and 
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3) Encourage private sector investment in 
late-stage technology 
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development and product introduction in the market. 
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Provided, howevel', that any agreement shall be subject to the review and 
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approval oCthe Board of Regents of the University oCthe Philippines. 
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Section 7. Board (~lDirectors and L".x:ecuti)!e Director. - The powers of the 
PIA shall be vested in and exercised by a Board of Directors, hereinafter 
referred to as the Board, which shall be composed of the following members: 
a) The Chairperson shall be the Secretary of Department of Health 
( DOl-I); 
b) A Vice-chairperson who shall come hom the members ofthe Board; 
c) Members consisting of: 
(I) The Executive Director of PIA in an ex-officio capacity; 
(2) The Executive Director ofthe National Institutes of Health in 
an ex-officio capacity; 
(3) Three recognized scholars or specialists in the field of 
neuroscience, gerontology and aging to be appointed by the 
Board of Regents of the University of the Philippines as 
recommended by the Chancellor of the University of the 
Philippines - Manila. 
Section 8. Appointment of Factllo) and Staff - The board shall organize a 
corps of scientists and researchers and a secretariat of the PIA, to be headed 
by the executive director. It shall fix scientists' honorarium and the 
secretariat's 
staffing 
pattern, 
determine 
the 
duties, 
qualifications, 
responsibilities and functions, as well as the compensation scheme for the 
positions to be created upon the recommendation of the executive director. 
This shall be performed in accordance with the existing rules and regulations 
oEUP and shall be subject to the approval of the Board of Regents. 
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Section 9. Functions and Qualifications of the Executi)!e Director. - The 
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Executive Director shall be a recognized scholar in health research and 
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development. I Ie shall be appointed and shall serve in accordance with the 
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existing rules and regulations of' UP. 
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The I!xecutive Director shall be the chief executive of thc Institute and shall 
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exercise direct control and supervision over the internal operations, 
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personnel and representatives of the PIA. S/he is also authorized to represent 
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the PIA in illltransactions. 
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The Executive Director of the PIA shall also sit in an ex-officio capacity as 
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member of the Board of Advisers o1'1he NIH. 
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Section 11. Technical Competence. - To effectively undertake its functions, 
tile PIA shall enhance its professional and technical competence through 
continuing education and rigorous training programs through modern 
laboratory facilities and state of the art technologies. As well as 
collaborative and exchange works and projects with similar institutions 
abroad. 
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Section 12. Public {{ccess. - The public and other health institutions shall 
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have access to the research findings, laboratory and research facilities and 
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other resources of the research institutes in UP Manila, as provided in the 
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implementing rules and regulations ofthis Act. 
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The PIA shall submit an annual report to the NIH and to such other agencies 
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as may be required by law before the end of April of each year. The annual 
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report shall contain but not be limited to the following: research conducted 
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or being conducted, exchange or collaborative projects entered into, studies 
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published, forums, symposia and conferences held and attended; grants 
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obtained, incentives granted, revenue generated, cost saved, and such 
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matters relevant to the performance of its functions. 
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The PIA shall make copies of such reports available to any interested party 
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upon payment of a charge that reflects its printing costs. 
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Section 13. AppropriatioNs. ~ The amount necessary to carry out the initial 
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implementation of this Act shall be charged against the General 
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Appropriations Act. Thereafter, such sums as may be needed for the 
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continued operation of the PIA shall be included in the annual General 
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Appmpriations Act. 
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Section 14. Implementing rules and regulations. ~ Within sixty (60) days 
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from the eflCctivity of this Act, the Board of Regents of UP, in coordination 
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with the DOL-I, shall formulate the rules and regulations necessary for the 
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implementation orthis Act. 
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Section 15. Repealing clause. ~ All laws, presidential decrees, executive 
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orders, rules and regulations, or parts thereof inconsistent with the 
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provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
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Section 16. Separability Clause. - If any portion or provision of this Act is 
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declared unconstitutional or invalid, the other portions or provisions hereof, 
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which arc not affected thereby, shall continue to be in full force and effect. 
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5'ectiol1 17. Effectivity. - This Act shall take elTect fifteen (15) days after its 
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publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspaper of general 
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circulation. 
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APPROVED, 
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