Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

‘TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 431

Introduced by REP. RODOLFO “OMPONG” M. ORDANES

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR A NATIONAL FRAMEWORK FOR SENIOR CITIZEN CARE
AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The 1986 Philippine Constitution affirms the vital role of the elderly in nation-building
and mandates the State to recognize the rights of senior citizens to assistance, including,
social services to ensure their well-being and dignity.

Despite existing policies and programs for senior citizens, many continue to suffer from
neglect, abuse, homelessness, and lack of access to quality health and social care. With the
growing number of Filipino senior citizens, which is projected to reach 14 million by 2030
according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), there is an urgent need to establish
an institutionalize, sustainable, and rights-based framework for senior citizen care.

This bill seeks to establish a “National Framework for Senior Citizen Care” to
systematically promote and protect the rights and welfare of senior citizens, especially the
frail, abandoned, neglected, sick, and indigent.

‘The measure mandates the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and
the National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC) to jointly lead the implementation of
a comprehensive home and community-based care program in partnership with local
government units (LGUs), civil society, and volunteers. The program shall involve social


preparation, family and community capacity-building, provision of home care, respite
services, physical and palliative care, and spiritual support.

Further, the bill provides for establishing residential and community care facilities in
every municipality and city, staffed by trained volunteers and professionals. These
facilities shall be entitled to tax exemptions and incentives, including income tax
deductions for medical professionals who render services to senior citizens and donors’
tax exemptions for philanthropic contributions.

Recognizing the cultural value of family caregiving, this proposed measure also supports
reintegration programs for abandoned or neglected senior citizens into the care of their
nearest capable relative, alongside technical and financial assistance.

To protect the elderly from abuse, exploitation, and neglect, the bill criminalizes various
forms of elder abuse by prescribing legal remedies such as protection and restraining
orders and empowering barangay officials and law enforcers to act promptly on reports

of abuse.

More importantly, this proposed legislation is consistent with the National Commission
of Senior Citizens’ (NCSC) flagship initiative, the Senior Citizens Care Center (SC3C)
Program, which is being implemented nationwide in collaboration with the LGUs. By
institutionalizing this framework, the bill ensures that this model of localized and holistic
senior citizen care is standardized and sustainably supported

Further, we recognize and appreciate the efforts of Cong. Marivic Co-Pilar, who was one
of the original proponents of this measure. His advocacy laid the foundation for this

important legislation's continued development and passage.

In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

RODOLFO “OM! "” M. ORDANES:


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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

‘TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 431

Introduced by REP. RODOLFO “OMPONG” M. ORDANES

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR A NATIONAL FRAMEWORK FOR SENIOR CITIZEN CARE
AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

CHAPTER |.
GENERAL PROVISIONS

SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the National Framework for
Senior Citizen Care Act.

SEC 2. Declaration of Policy. — It is the declared policy of the State to give
priority for the needs of the underprivileged sick, elderly, disabled, women, and
children, value the dignity of every human person, extend assistance to its elderly
citizens through programs of social security, and promote the right to health and safety
of senior citizens through a social care and security program.

Toward this end, this measure seeks to institutionalize a national senior citizen
care framework that will focus and ensure the rights and care for senior citizens.

SEC 3. Definition of Terms. — As defined in this Act,

a. Abandoned Senior Citizen - refers to a senior citizen who has been deserted,
permanently or temporarily, by his relatives or persons who have general or
legal responsibility over the senior citizen, and from whom all basic care has
been withdrawn;


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Abuse ~ refers to any willful and unjustified act that may cause any type of
harm to a senior citizen;

Capacity Building Activities - refer to the conduct of trainings, skills
enhancement on the care and management of senior citizen, team building
activities as well as value formation sessions to families, community,
community volunteers and service providers;

Coordinator ~ refers to the volunteer focal person in the community where the
Home Care Support Services is implemented;

Exploitation - refers to an act committed by any person to take advantage of a
senior citizen for their personal gain;

Family Carer - refers to an immediate family member of the senior citizen who
voluntarily looks after the sick, frail and/or bedridden senior citizen;

Frail Senior Citizen ~ refers to a senior citizen who is unable to care for
themselves or unable to perform activities or daily living due to an illness and
any kind of disability.

Helping Plan ~ refers to the formulated program by a volunteer together with
the senior citizen beneficiary, his or her family who will be encouraged to
participate in all phases of activities, ie. assessment, planning,
implementation of helping plans, monitoring and evaluation of the activities
of the senior citizen beneficiary;

Home Care Volunteer - refers to a non-salaried trained and registered member
of the LGU who serves, willing and interested to commit time, resources and
talent to care for the sick, frail, disabled and bedridden senior citizen of the
community;

Home Health Care Service - refers to health or supportive care provided to the
senior citizen patient at home by licensed health care professionals to include
but not limited to, physicians, nurses, midwives, physical therapist and
caregivers

Homeless Senior Citizen ~ refers to a senior citizen who has been physically
deserted by his or her family, elderly care facility and private care giving
services, thus having no basic shelter;


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Kinship Carer - refers to a relative of the senior citizen in need of assistance
due to physical and mental disability who takes care of him or her but lives in
a separate house;

m. Neglected Senior Citizen - refers to a senior citizen who lacks a fixed, regular

residence, or whose current residence is unfit for human habitation, or lacks

resources to obtain proper housing;

n. Project Advisory Committee ~ refers to an interagency committee involved in

the implementation of the home care program, providing technical assistance,
monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of the Home Care Support

Services;

©. Resident and Community Care Facilities - refer to a home for the aged,

established and maintained under this Act by a private entity, city, or
municipality which provides living accommodations, food and clothing,
medical and health care, and recreational and social interaction activities for
abandoned or homeless senior citizen;

p. Respite Services - the provision of relief to the family whether be it coming from
a volunteer from the demands of their roles as carers by providing temporary
care and support services in caring of the senior citizen;

q. Senior Citizen - refers to any Filipino citizen who is a resident, and who is sixty
(60) years old or above; and

r. Social Preparation - refers to activities that would initiate interest and
participation among concerned entities at different levels - provincial, city,
municipal, barangay as well as other government organizations, non-
government organizations, civic and faith-based groups, and academe to

generate commitment and involvement in the implementation of this act.

CHAPTER II
FRAMEWORK FOR SENIOR CITIZEN CARE

SEC 4. Senior Citizen Care Program. - The Department of Social Welfare and

Development (DSWD) shall hereby create a national program for the furtherance of home

care support services for senior citizen.


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The program shall provide social preparation across all sectors and target
communities to enhance interest in home and community care approach. The DSWD shall
conduct trainings, skills enhancement on the care and management of senior citizen, team
building activities as well as value formation sessions to families, community volunteers
and service providers through the local government units and DSWD field offices.

The LGUs shall be involved in the identification of the marginalized senior citizen
or senior citizen in crisis as may be reported through and by the instrumentalities of the
LGUs.

The program shall provide intervention based on a helping plan which focuses on
the assessment and enhancement of Home Care, Respite Services, Physical Fitness
Program, Kinship Care, Palliative Care and Spiritual Services. DSWD shall provide the
LGU with technical assistance through coaching, program monitoring, mentoring and
skills enhancement including all interested parties and volunteers that may be formed as
a result of this Act.

SEC 5, Lead Agencies. - The DSWD and the National Commission of Senior
Citizens (NCSC) shalll serve as the joint central planning, coordinating, implementing, and
monitoring body of the Program.

In the implementation of this Act, the DSWD shall perform the following
functions:

a. Screen, verify, and assess the beneficiaries’ situation and identify the

appropriate intervention to fully serve their situation;

b. Provide family-based care programs to equip and educate families on how to
care for the beneficiaries as stated in Section 4 of this Act;

c. Provide community-based care programs to help willing communities
organize themselves to provide home care services, respite services, palliative
care services;

d. Provide trainings to community and family care volunteers to equip and
educate on matters of Home Care, Respite Services, Physical Fitness Program,
Kinship Care, Palliative Care and Spiritual Services;

e. Develop a Helping Plan that will be suitable to the needs of the primary and
secondary beneficiaries with respect to ethnicity, religious belief and Geriatric

considerations;


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f. Perform such other functions in harmony with the National Commission of
Senior Citizens as may be necessary or incidental to the proper and effective
implementation of this Act.

In the implementation of this Act, the National Commission of Senior Citizens

shall perform the following functions:

a. Create and maintain a central repository and database of senior citizens that
shall serve as the master list of all screened and verified beneficiaries clustering
them according to specific needs and program intervention classification;

b. Coordinate with different national and local agencies, including organizations
from the private sector to ensure full implementation of statutory
commitments herein;

c. Perform such other functions in harmony with the Department of Social
Welfare and Development as may be necessary or incidental to the proper
implementation of this Act.

SEC 6. Advisory Council. - An advisory Council shall be created at the regional
and national levels to be co-chaired by the DSWD and the National Commission of Senior
Citizens.

The regional advisory councils and national advisory council shall have as member
representatives from the DSWD, Department of Health, Department of Labor and
Employment, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Technical Education and
Skills Development Authority and the Department of Trade and Industry. The regional
and the national advisory councils shall also have, as additional members, two
representatives from accredited non-government organizations and the medical field
working on monitoring social welfare service programs.

The Advisory Councils shall have the following functions:

a. Meet regularly to promote coordination across agencies to enhance the
implementation of the program and jointly address and resolve program
implementation issues;

b. Recommend to the President, measures and policies for the responsive
delivery of the commitments under this Act and integration with the
general senior care and senior citizen benefits strategy of the government;

c. Promulgate a grievance redress system and accept complaints and
grievances pertaining to the implementation of this Act;


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d. Review the monitoring and assessment reports of the DSWD and submit
necessary policy recommendations to Congress to improve and strengthen
the program, if necessary.

CHAPTER IIL
PRIMARY CARE AND CARE FACILITIES

SEC 7. Primary Care. - This Act recognizes the family as the immediate carer of
senior citizen. It shall provide care for the senior citizen member of the family as customs
and culture permits. The DSWD shall hereby establish a program of reintegration for
abandoned, neglected, frail, abused and exploited senior citizen to the nearest surviving
relative, Provided, that the said relative has the capacity and means to support and provide
for the senior citizen as deemed and certified by the DSWD.

DSWD shall provide technical and financial support to the nearest surviving
relative of the senior citizen thru the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS)
at the onset of the reintegration.

DSWD and the local government units shall also monitor the situation and conduct
regular visitations to the senior citizen that has been reintegrated with their nearest
surviving relatives for an ample amount of time as prescribed by the implementing rules
and regulations in pursuant to this Act.

SEC 8. Establishment of Residential Care Facility. - There shall be established in
every municipality and city, a residential care facility to serve abandoned and homeless
senior citizen, to be built by the local government units concerned and shall be jointly
operated and maintained by the LGU and the Department of Social Welfare and
Development.

SEC 9. Community Care Facilities. -

Volunteers to the community care facilities shall be trained by DSWD and / or
TESDA to fulfill the provisions as set forth by the program to be created by this Act.
{Doctors and Allied Medical Professionals and Practitioners who volunteer to this
community care facilities shall be entitled to a deduction from their gross income,
equivalent to a twenty percent (20%) discount of their professional fees rendered for the
exclusive use and enjoyment or availment of the senior citizen] DOCTORS AND


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ALLIED MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS, AND PRACTITIONERS WHO VOLUNTEER
AND OFFER SERVICES TO COMMUNITY CARE FACILITIES, SHALL BE
ENTITLED TO DEDUCT FROM GROSS INCOME TWENTY PERCENT 20% OF
PROFESSIONAL FEES FOR SERVICES EXCLUSIVELY RENDERED TO SENIOR
CITIZENS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE NATIONAL
INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1997, AS AMENDED. 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 VAT, 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 (NIRC), as amended.
[Furthermore, Donors to the established community care facilities shall be exempted in
the payment of Donors Tax.]
ALL GRANTS, BEQUEST, ENDOWMENTS, DONATIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS
MADE TO THE COMMUNITY CARE FACILITIES AND USED ACTUALLY,
DIRECTLY AND EXCLUSIVELY BY THEM, SHALL BE EXEMPT FROM DONOR’S:
TAX, AND THE SAME SHALL BE CONSIDERED AS ALLOWABLE DEDUCTIONS
FROM THE GROSS INCOME FOR PURPOSES OF COMPUTING THE TAXABLE
INCOME OF THE DONOR IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE
NATIONAL INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1997, AS AMENDED.

SEC 10. Functions of Residential Care Facility and Community Care Facilities. -
The facility shall provide homeless and abandoned senior citizen within its territorial
jurisdiction institutionalized residential care programs and services such as but not
limited to:

a. Social services

s

. Homelife services

. Primary health care services

ao

|. Psychological Services

.. Occupational Opportunities
Recreational and other cultural services

. Literacy Education

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. Productivity Development
i. Religious, Cultural and Vocational Acti



SEC 11. Exemptions and General Benefits of Residential and Community Care
Facilities. - {Subject to existing laws, rules and regulations, the established residential or
community care facility may be exempted from the payment of customs duties, taxes and
tariffs on the importation of equipment and supplies actually, directly and exclusively
used by the nursing home pursuant to this Act.]

THE IMPORTATION OF EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES ACTUALLY,
DIRECTLY AND EXCLUSIVELY USED BY THE NURSING HOME OF THE
ESTABLISHED RESIDENTIAL OR COMMUNITY CARE FACILITY SHALL, UPON
CERTIFICATION BY THE DSWD, SHALL BE EXEMPT FROM CUSTOMS DUTIES
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10863,
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE “CUSTOMS MODERNIZATION AND TARIFF ACT
(CMTA).” [Furthermore, Donors to the established residential care facilities shall be
exempted in the payment of Donors Tax.]

ALL GRANTS, BEQUEST, ENDOWMENTS, DONATIONS AND
CONTRIBUTIONS MADE TO THE ESTABLISHED RESIDENTIAL CARE
FACILITIES AND USED ACTUALLY, DIRECTLY AND EXCLUSIVELY BY THEM,
SHALL BE EXEMPT FROM DONOR’S TAX AND THE SAME SHALL BE
CONSIDERED AS ALLOWABLE DEDUCTIONS FROM THE GROSS INCOME FOR
PURPOSES OF COMPUTING THE TAXABLE INCOME OF THE DONOR IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE NATIONAL INTERNAL
REVENUE CODE OF 1997, AS AMENDED.

SEC 12. Private Care Facilities. - Private care facilities that shall accept frail,
indigent, homeless, neglected and abandoned senior citizen as certified by the DSWD,
upon the effectivity of this Act, [shall be entitled to a deduction from their gross income,
equivalent to a twenty percent (20%) discount of their professional fees rendered for the
exclusive use and enjoyment or availment of the senior citizen.] SHALL BE ENTITLED
TO DEDUCT FROM GROSS INCOME TWENTY PERCENT 20% OF FEES FOR
SERVICES EXCLUSIVELY RENDERED TO SENIOR CITIZENS: 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
Page 3 of 3 deduction net of VAT, 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 OF 1997, as amended.


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CHAPTER IV
ASSISTANCE TO ABANDONED AND NEGLECTED SENIOR CITIZEN

SEC 13. Acts of Abandonment or Neglect. - the following acts shall constitute
abandonment and neglect of senior citizen:

a. Abandonment or desertion by leaving a senior citizen unattended at a place for
such a considerable length of time, as may be likely to endanger the life, health,
and welfare of a senior citizen, by an individual who has assumed
responsibility for providing care for the senior citizen, or by a person with
custody of a senior citizen;

b. To willfully neglect to provide food, medicines, shelter, clothing or services
necessary for the physical and mental health of a senior citizen.

SEC 14, Assistance Granted to a Senior Citizen in cases of Abandonment and
Neglect. - The senior citizen may avail of the following assistance in case of their
abandonment and neglect:

a. legal services from the Public Attorney's Office or any public legal assistance
office with the assistance of the local government or the DSWD to protect their
rights and interests;

b. support services from the DSWD and the LGU concemed including but not
limited to:

1. Counseling;

2. Rehabilitative Care;

3. Temporary Housing or Shelter as prescribed in Sections Chapter III of this
Act;

c. Restitution, actual or compensatory, moral, nominal or temperate, and
exemplary damages as may be applicable by law.

SEC 15. Response and Assistance. - In cases of reported and actual abandonment
or neglect described in Section 15 of this Act, a barangay official or any law enforcer shall
have the following rights and duties:

a. Confiscate any harmful object discovered in plain view in the course of their

response operation;


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b. Transport the victim to the nearest safe and adequate location for immediate
medical or psychological exam done by a duly licensed medical professional;
. Assist the victim in the acquisition of personal belongings from the dwelling;
d. Coordinate and report any and all pertinent acts stipulated the Section 15 of
this Act and call the assistance of the local government unit, the DSWD and/or
accredited non-government organization.
SEC 16, Treatment of Respondents. - The DSWD, shall provide counseling and
rehabilitative care and treatment to respondents who abandoned or neglected the senior
citizen, Further, the DSWD shall introduce and provide a program for their learning and

mental reformation.

CHAPTER V
PROHIBITED ACTS

SEC 17. Prohibited Acts. - It shall be unlawful for any person or entity to commit
the following acts against the senior citizen:

a. To obtain control over money, assets or property of the senior citizen through
undue influence, threat, intimidation and deceitful machinations with the
intention to deprive the elderly of its ownership, use and benefit;

b. To cause mental or emotional distress through verbal abuse, intimidation,
harassment, public humiliation and pillory;

¢. To inflict or threaten to inflict any physical harm or injury, including any
form of sexual harassment;

d. To prevent from engaging in any legitimate profession, occupation or business;
Provided, That, if such profession, occupation or business may cause harm,
threat, or abuse on the person of a senior citizen, the prevention to engage in
the same shall not be considered as a prohibited act under this section.

SEC 18. Venue. - The Regional Trial Court designated as a Family Court shall have
original and exclusive jurisdiction in cases of commission of prohibited acts against the
senior citizen provided in Section 17 of this Act. In the absence of such court in the place
where the offense was committed, the case shall be filed in the Regional Trial Court where

the crime or any of its elements was committed at the option of the complainant.


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CHAPTER VI
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF
BARANGAY OFFICIALS AND LAW ENFORCERS

SEC 19. Duties and Responsibilities of Barangay Officials. - In the event of

reported or actual commission of the prohibited acts stated in Section 17 of this Act, a
barangay official or law enforcer shall have the following duties and responsibil

a. Immediate response to call for help or request protection of the victim by
entering a dwelling, if necessary, whether or not a protection order has been
issued to ensure the safety of the victim;

b, Ensure the enforcement of a protection order issued by the barangay, the court
or any legal instrumentality of judicial and quasi - judicial bodies;

c. Arrest the suspected perpetrator or a perpetrator when any acts described in
the Section 17 of this Act is occurring, or on a personal knowledge, an act of
violence has been committed, and when imminent danger to life and limb
actually exists.

CHAPTER VII
RELIEFS AND PROCEDURES

SEC 20. Protection and Restraining Order. - An injunction under this Act may be

requested or issued for the purpose of preventing further acts of abuse or violence against
a senior citizen victim thereby granting an instrumental relief. The order may be enforced
thru the following means:

a. Barangay Protection Order ~ A barangay protection order is hereby defined as
an order by the Barangay duly secured thru the pronouncement of the duly
instituted Jupon tagapamayapa as signed by the Barangay Chairman, after three
hearings or as may be prescribed by the lupon which may be dependent on the
actuality of danger or eminent harm to a senior citizen, Further, the Barangay
Protection Order shall be enforced by the barangay and alll its law enforcement
instrumentalities in order to asses and prevent any further harm. Upon the
instance a repeat violation of Section 19 of this Act, the barangay shall then


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elevate the matter to the pertinent court of jurisdiction as coordinated with the
DSWD for presentation of appropriate charges to the suspected or actual
perpetrator and his/her/their cohorts.

b. Restraining Order - A restraining order is hereby defined as an order by the
Barangay, the court and/or the Philippine National Police (PNP) duly secured
thru the pronouncement of the pertinent law enforcement or the court after due
hearings or as may be immediately prescribed by the Barangay, PNP, or the
Court which may be dependent on the actuality of danger or eminent harm to
a senior citizen. Further, the Restraining Order shall be enforced by the
barangay, the DSWD and/or the PNP in order to distance the victim from the
actual or suspected perpetrator in order to prevent further physical or mental
harm. Upon violation of the Restrain Order as observed in plain view by the
Barangay, PNP or the elements of the DSWD, the PNP shall have the right to
arrest the perpetrator in order to prevent further harm, physical and / or
mental, to the victim and immediately file a case to the pertinent court of
jurisdiction within 48 hours from the time of detention.

SEC 21. Additional Powers of the Protection Orders as may be prescribed by

the Court or Barangay. - Additional protection shall be afforded to victims in cases of

violation of protection orders as prescribed under this Act:

a. Prohibition of the respondent or offender from threatening to commit,
personally or through another any violation of Section 18 of this Act;

b. To order the respondent, perpetrator or suspected perpetrator to immediately
leave the dwelling, residence or domicile of a victim together with his or her
personal belongings. Further, should a respondent, perpetrator or suspected
perpetrator’s personal effects or personal belongings be removed from the
dwelling, residence or domicile of a victim, the Court, the Barangay or the
DSWD shall direct a law enforcement officer to accompany the respondent,
perpetrator or suspected perpetrator to the said location and be within plain
sight of the law enforcement officer until such time that the said person or
persons has gathered all personal effects and belongings and escort the said
person and persons from the residence, dwelling or domicile. Provided, further
that in the instance that a victim should remove himself or herself from the


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residence, dwelling or domicile, the victim shall likewise be accorded the same
protection;

c. To order a respondent, perpetrator or suspected perpetrator to not be within a
certain distance from a victim to ensure the physical and mental safety of the
victim. The order shall be effective in the following locations; including but not
limited to:

1. Residence
2. Place of Work
3. And other places frequented by the victim

d. To prohibit the respondent perpetrator or suspected perpetrator from directly
or indirectly communicating with the victim

SEC 22. Application of Protection Orders, ~ The following may apply or apply in
behalf of the victim a petition before the Court or the Barangay for any of the stipulated
protection orders:

a. The Victim;

b. Any member of the family, member of the household, nearest surviving

relative who has personal knowledge of the violations of Section 19 of this Act;

c. An element of the DSWD or the LGU or any accredited social welfare
organization;

d. Law enforcement officer or any agent of the Court;

e. Counselor or Therapist of the Victim;

f, Healthcare Provider of the Victim upon acquisition of a medico legal
examination;

g. Any concerned responsible citizen of the community who has personal
knowledge of the violation of Section 19 of this Act.

SEC 23. Hold Departure Order. - a hold departure order shall be issued by the
court, against the respondent, perpetrator or suspected perpetrator of a complaint as
described under Section 19 of this Act.

SEC 24. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the initial implementation of
this Act shall be charged against the current year’s appropriation of the departments and
agencies concerned. Thereafter, the amount needed for the continued implementation of
this Act shall be included in the budget of the said agencies in the annual General
Appropriations Act.


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The Local Government Units shall secure the implementation of this Act thru their
respective internal revenue allotment.

SEC 25. Suppletory Provisions. - The Revised Penal Code and other applicable
laws shall have a suppletory application for the purpose of this Act.

SEC 26. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within sixty (60) days from the
effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of the DSWD, in coordination with the Chairperson
of the NCSC and the Secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government shall,
promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this
Act.

SEC 27. Separability Clause. — If any provision or part of this Act is declared
unconstitutional, the remaining parts or provisions not affected shall remain in force and
effect.

SEC 28. Repealing Clause. — All laws, presidential decrees, issuances, executive
orders, letters of instruction, rules or regulations, or parts thereof inconsistent with or
contrary to the provisions of this Act are repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

SEC 29. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,