1
Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
Nineteenth Congress 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _____ 
Introduced by Representative Rudys Caesar G. Fariñas I 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill seeks to protect and promote the right to health of senior citizens 
through the establishment of specialized hospitals and research institutes. 
To this end, this measure, among other salient features, creates The National 
Center for Geriatric Health (NCGH) as a teaching, research, and training hospital 
specializing in senior care and serving as an apex hospital or end-referral facility 
for senior citizens in the country. It will be under the direct control and 
supervision of the DOH, its bed capacity, service capabilities, healthcare 
facilities, 
expansion, 
organizational 
structure, 
and 
human 
resource 
requirements on the hospital and human resource development plan to be 
prepared by the NCGHRI and approved by the DOH. In addition, the Philippine 
Council on Health Research and Development (PCHRD) and the Institute on 
Aging of the National Institutes of Health (IA-NIH) shall work together to develop 
and implement cutting-edge research studies on diseases related to old age, 
conduct and participate in international and local gerontological research 
activities, provide consultancy services and technical assistance in setting 
standards for geriatric wards, develop and maintain a core information hub on 
geriatrics and gerontological studies, extend medical benefits to senior citizens, 
provide an integrated and practical approach in the delivery of senior health 
services, conduct specialty training and technical assistance, finance, sponsor, 
hold or participate in congresses, conventions, conferences, seminars, 
workshops, and training programs, and establish a standardized referral system 
for psychosocial services. 
Hence, this representation seeks the passage of this measure.   
RUDYS CAESAR G. FARIÑAS I 
March 6, 2023
5:22 pm
7460


 2
Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
Nineteenth Congress 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _____ 
Introduced by Representative Rudys Caesar G. Fariñas I 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR GERIATRIC HEALTH AND 
RESEARCH INSTITUTE, DEFINING ITS POWERS AND FUNCTIONS, 
CREATING REGIONAL GERIATRIC SPECIALTY CENTERS IN THE 
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH–RETAINED HOSPITALS, AND APPROPRIATING 
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 “Geriatric Health Act.” 
1 
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is the policy of  the  State  to  protect  and 
2 
promote  the  right   to   health     of senior citizens all over the country by ensuring 
3 
that holistic health services are available and accessible to them through the 
4 
establishment of a specialized hospital and research institute as well as geriatric 
5 
specialty centers in the Department of Health (DOH) - retained hospitals in every 
6 
region.  
7 
8 
Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. – As used in this Act: 
9 
10 
a. Acute care refers to a specialized program that addresses the needs of
11 
hospitalized older adults  in   a   multidisciplinary  team  approach  to
12 
prevent  functional  and  cognitive  decline    and           to improve outcomes;
13 
14 
b. Apex or end-referral hospital refers to  a  hospital  offering  specialized  services
15 
as  determined            by DOH, which is contracted as a stand-alone
16 
facility by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth);
17 
7460


 
 
 
 
3
 
1 
c. Geriatric health services refer to the medical services or interventions 
2 
provided by a multidisciplinary team to older adult patients; 
3 
 
d. Geriatric medicine or Geriatrics refers  to  the  sub-specialty  of  internal  and   
4 
family  medicine      that diagnoses and treats a wide range of conditions 
5 
and diseases that affect  people as they age and aims to promote health 
6 
and treat disabilities of older adults; 
7 
 
8 
e. Geriatric palliative care refers to a specialized medical care that focuses 
9 
on providing elderly patients relief from pain and other symptoms of a 
10 
serious illness, regardless of diagnosis or stage of disease, and provided  
11 
alongside  curative  and other  forms  of   treatment.           It is a field of 
12 
inter-specialty collaboration to respond to the socio-demographic 
13 
changes and challenges of older adults with severe and life-limiting 
14 
conditions; 
15 
 
16 
f. Geriatric specialty center refers to a unit or department in a DOH-
17 
retained hospital that offers specialized care to the aging population, 
18 
particularly to frail older persons,  addressing     their particular conditions 
19 
and providing specific procedures and management of cases, requiring 
20 
specialized training and/or equipment; 
21 
 
22 
g. Geriatrician  refers  to  a  medical  doctor  who   has   passed   the  necessary  
23 
training  and  specialty licensure examination for the practice of Geriatric 
24 
Medicine;  
25 
      
26 
h. Gerontology  refers  to  the  study   of   the   biological,   psychological,   spiritual,   
27 
social,    economic,          and the demographic aspects of the aging 
28 
process; 
29 
 
30 
i. Home-based healthcare and reablement program refers to a community-
31 
based service which  primarily  caters  to  the  frail  older  persons  who  have  
32 
lost  or  are  experiencing   problems        with mobility; 
33 
 
34 
j. Integrated delivery of geriatric health services refers to hospital and 
35 
community-based medical and psycho-social services provided to senior 
36 
citizens by a multidisciplinary   team; 
37 
 
k. Multi-disciplinary team refers to a team composed of health professionals 
38 
headed by a geriatrician and includes surgeons, organ-system 
39 
specialists, nurses, clinical pharmacists, rehabilitation  therapists,  
40 
nutritionists,  dentists,  social workers,  caregivers,  family  members           and 
41 
patients themselves;  
42 
 
l. People-centered service refers to an approach to geriatric care that 
43 
consciously adopts the perspectives of individuals, families, and 
44 
communities, and sees them as participants as well as beneficiaries of 
45 


 
 
 
 
4
trusted health systems that respond to their needs and preferences in 
1 
holistic and humane ways; 
2 
 
3 
m. 
Senior citizen refers to an elderly Filipino who is at least sixty (60) 
4 
years old; 
5 
 
6 
n. Sub-acute care refers to care for patients who no longer require 
7 
hospitalization, but still need skilled medical care through rehabilitative 
8 
medicine. Sub-acute rehabilitation is recommended when a patient is 
9 
not functionally able to return home; and, 
10 
 
11 
o. Transitional care refers to a form of health care in geriatric medicine 
12 
designed to ensure coordination and continuity of care as patients 
13 
transfer between different locations or different levels of care, and the 
14 
safe and effective management of both chronic and acute illness in older 
15 
adults. 
16 
 
17 
Sec. 4. National Center for Geriatric Health and Research Institute. – The 
18 
National Center for Geriatric Health (NCGH) is hereby classified as a teaching, 
19 
research, and training hospital that shall specialize in geriatric care and serve as 
20 
an apex hospital or end-referral facility for senior citizens in                   the country. 
21 
The NCGH shall be renamed as the National Center for Geriatric Health   and 
22 
Research Institute (NCGHRI) and shall be under the direct control and 
23 
supervision of the DOH. 
24 
 
25 
The bed capacity, service capabilities, healthcare facilities, expansion, 
26 
organizational structure and human resource requirements of the NCGHRI shall be 
27 
based on the hospital  and  human resource development plan to be prepared by 
28 
the NCGHRI and approved by the DOH. 
29 
 
30 
Sec. 5. Powers and Functions. – To carry out the provisions of this Act, the 
31 
NCGHRI shall have the following powers and functions: 
32 
 
33 
a. Serve as an apex hospital or end-referral facility which shall specialize 
34 
in geriatric health services; 
35 
 
36 
b. Formulate a hospital development plan which shall be regularly 
37 
updated to reflect the expansion and future development of the 
38 
NCGHRI; 
39 
 
40 
c. Provide and maintain affordable, quality, and timely people-centered 
41 
hospital care through an efficient health service delivery system for 
42 
senior citizens;  
43 
 
44 
d. Provide higher and up-to-date geriatric training for professionals, 
45 
postgraduates, academics and allied healthcare providers especially 
46 


 
 
 
 
5
from the geriatric specialty centers in the regions and LGUs, and other 
1 
government hospitals; 
2 
 
e. Develop and implement cutting edge research studies on diseases 
3 
related to old age with a view to translating research outcomes into 
4 
policy and specialized health care solutions, and publish research 
5 
studies that shall serve as a critical information resource for the 
6 
medical and research community, in coordination with the Philippine 
7 
Council on Health Research and Development (PCHRD) and the 
8 
Institute on Aging of the National  Institutes of Health (IA-NIH); 
9 
 
10 
f. Conduct and participate in international and local gerontological 
11 
research activities; 
12 
 
g. Provide consultancy service and technical assistance in the setting of 
13 
standards for geriatric wards in every tertiary level hospital, nursing 
14 
home and residential center catering to the health and functioning 
15 
needs of senior citizens, in coordination with the PCHRD and the IA-
16 
NIH; 
17 
 
18 
h. Develop and maintain a core information hub on geriatrics and 
19 
gerontological studies in coordination with the IA-NIH and concerned offices  
20 
in  the  DOH  and  its  attached  agencies,          such as the Disease 
21 
Prevention and Control Bureau and the Knowledge Management and 
22 
Information Technology Service; 
23 
 
24 
i. Extend medical services to senior citizens pursuant to the goals, 
25 
objectives, and rules of the National Health Insurance Program and in 
26 
accordance with Republic Act No. 11223, otherwise known as the 
27 
“Universal Health Care Act”; 
28 
 
29 
j. Provide an integrated and effective approach in the delivery of geriatric 
30 
health services in collaboration with other government agencies, local 
31 
government units (LGUs) and other stakeholders; 
32 
 
33 
k. Conduct specialty training and technical assistance in collaboration 
34 
with concerned DOH offices and other relevant professional 
35 
organizations; 
36 
 
l. Finance, sponsor, hold or participate in congresses, conventions, 
37 
conferences, seminars, workshops, and training programs on geriatric 
38 
health services or related fields in the Philippines and abroad; and 
39 
 
40 
m. Establish a standardized referral system for psychosocial services. 
41 
 
42 
Sec. 6. Scope of Services. – The NCGHRI shall provide the following services: 
43 
 
44 


 
 
 
 
6
a. Hospital-based services to ensure the availability of medical facilities 
1 
and equipment for senior citizens needing acute and sub-acute care, 
2 
geriatric palliative care, transitional and outpatient care services, and 
3 
such other necessary services; 
4 
 
5 
b. Community-based services utilizing multidisciplinary team approaches 
6 
such as home-based healthcare and reablement programs, research and 
7 
external resource outsourcing for community-based integrated geriatric 
8 
health services and trainings necessary for the psycho-social functioning 
9 
of senior citizens and their families, in coordination with LGUs; 
10 
 
11 
c. Technical assistance and capacity building in the establishment and 
12 
maintenance of nursing homes and residential care facilities and senior 
13 
citizens' wards in government hospitals pursuant to Republic Act No. 
14 
9994, otherwise known as the "Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010";  
15 
 
16 
d. Technical assistance and capacity building in the establishment of geriatric 
17 
specialty centers        and services to strengthen the network of geriatric 
18 
care service providers across   the country and ensure the delivery of 
19 
quality health services for senior citizens; 
20 
 
21 
e. Education programs and scholarships to pursue excellence and the 
22 
highest level of quality in the practice of the specialized field of geriatrics 
23 
and other related fields, including postgraduate training and short-term 
24 
courses for medical doctors and other allied medical health professions, 
25 
in coordination with the IA-NIH; and  
26 
 
f.  Education programs in geriatrics and gerontology subjects in 
27 
undergraduate health and allied professions, including training of 
28 
students, as well as postgraduate medical education of physicians, 
29 
nurses, allied professionals, pharmacists, dentists, and social workers. 
30 
 
31 
The Geriatric Specialty Fellowship Training Program of the NCGHRI shall 
32 
seek and maintain full accreditation status in the Philippine College of Geriatric 
33 
Medicine. 
34 
 
35 
The NCGHRI shall ensure the accessibility of all its programs and services 
36 
and take into consideration the special needs of senior citizens with disabilities. 
37 
 
38 
Sec. 7. Organizational Structure and Staffing Pattern. – The Secretary of the 
39 
DOH shall determine the organizational structure and staffing pattern of the 
40 
NCGHRI in accordance with the revised compensation and position 
41 
classification system subject to the evaluation and approval of the Department 
42 
of Budget and Management (DBM) and in compliance with the civil service laws, 
43 
rules and regulations. 
44 
 
45 


 
 
 
 
7
Sec. 8. Establishment of Geriatric Specialty Centers. – Geriatric specialty 
1 
centers are hereby established in DOH regional hospitals, which shall serve as 
2 
apex or end-referral hospitals of the health care provider networks and training 
3 
and research facilities on geriatric specialty care services. Geriatric health 
4 
services shall be available in all government primary health facilities. 
5 
 
6 
The level of geriatric services and corresponding facilities in specialty 
7 
centers and their respective health human resource requirements shall be 
8 
determined by the DOH, in coordination with NCGHRI and other stakeholders: 
9 
Provided, That the standards to be adopted thereon shall be consistent with the 
10 
Philippine Health Facility Development Plan and Section 6 of this Act. 
11 
 
12 
Sec. 9. Categorization of Patients. – The DOH shall ensure that the NCGHRI 
13 
shall adopt and enforce a categorization of paying and non-paying patients. The 
14 
allocation of beds for non-paying patients shall be not less than seventy percent 
15 
(70%) of the total number of hospital beds.  
16 
 
17 
Sec. 10. Income Retention. – All income generated from the operations of the 
18 
NCGHRI shall be deposited in an authorized government depository bank and 
19 
shall be used to augment the funds allocated for its maintenance, other 
20 
operating expenses and capital outlay requirements, subject to the guidelines 
21 
set by the DOH and the DBM.   
22 
 
23 
Sec. 11. Privilege. – The NCGHRI may request and receive assistance from the 
24 
different agencies, bureaus, offices or instrumentalities of the government, 
25 
including the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office and Philippine Amusement 
26 
and Gaming Corporation, in pursuit of its purposes and objectives. 
27 
 
28 
Sec. 12. Tax Exemptions. – All donations, endowments, contributions, grants 
29 
and bequests used actually, directly and exclusively for and in accordance with 
30 
the purposes and functions of the NCGHRI shall be exempt from donor's tax, 
31 
and the same shall be considered as allowable  deductions from gross income 
32 
for purposes of computing the taxable income of the donor, in accordance with 
33 
the provisions of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended. 
34 
 
35 
The NCGHRI shall be exempt from income tax and customs duty levied by the 
36 
government and its political subdivisions, agencies and instrumentalities 
37 
subject to the provisions of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as 
38 
amended and Republic Act No. 10863, otherwise known as the “Customs 
39 
Modernization and Tariff Act.” 
40 
 
41 
The NCGHRI shall avail of the tax expenditure subsidy administered by the 
42 
Fiscal Incentives Review Board (FIRB), subject to the provisions of Title XIII (Tax 
43 


 
 
 
 
8
Incentives) of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended, 
1 
Executive Order No. 93, as amended, and the General Appropriations Act.   
2 
 
3 
Sec. 13. Coordination with and Assistance from Other Government 
4 
Agencies. – The NCGHRI shall collaborate with the National Commission of 
5 
Senior Citizens (NCSC) in the development of its programs and services. It may 
6 
likewise call upon any department, bureau, office, agency, or instrumentality of 
7 
the government for assistance, in the pursuit of the purposes and objectives of 
8 
this Act. 
9 
 
10 
Sec. 14. Appropriations. – The amount necessary for the implementation of this 
11 
Act shall be charged against the current year’s appropriation of the DOH. 
12 
Thereafter, the funding of which shall be included in the annual General 
13 
Appropriations Act. 
14 
 
15 
Sec. 15. Annual Report. – The NCGHRI shall submit an annual report to the 
16 
President of the Philippines, the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, 
17 
the House of Representatives Committee on Health, and the NCSC, on its 
18 
activities, accomplishments and recommendations to further improve the 
19 
delivery of geriatric health services. 
20 
 
21 
Sec. 16. Transitory Provisions. – In accomplishing organizational changes and 
22 
improvements that have to be implemented, the following transitory provisions 
23 
shall be complied with: 
24 
 
a. The National Center for Geriatric Health (NCGH) currently under the 
25 
Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center (JRRMMC) shall be absorbed by 
26 
NCGHRI including its  existing personnel regardless of status, and all 
27 
buildings and equipment, fixtures and furnishings, other assets and 
28 
liabilities, and current appropriations; 
29 
 
30 
b. The independence of the NCGHRI from the JRRMMC shall be fully 
31 
realized within a period of two (2) years. The DOH shall ensure that no 
32 
disruption of service will occur during this transitory period; 
33 
 
34 
c. The existing officials and employees of NCGH shall continue to assume 
35 
the duties of   their positions until new appointments are issued. They 
36 
shall be placed in the new staffing pattern of the NCGHRI in accordance 
37 
with R.A. No. 6656, entitled “An Act to Protect the Security of Tenure of 
38 
Civil Service Officers and Employees in the Implementation of 
39 
Government Reorganization” and the rules and regulations governing 
40 
reorganization. Officials and employees, including casual and temporary 
41 
employees, who shall not be absorbed in the new staffing pattern due to 
42 
redundancy shall avail of the applicable retirement benefits and 
43 
separation incentives as provided under existing laws: Provided, That 
44 
officials and employees holding permanent appointment shall also be 
45 


 
 
 
 
9
given the option to be transferred to other units or offices within the 
1 
DOH without reduction in   rank, status, pay and benefits; 
2 
 
3 
d. Research grants acquired by the NCGHRI during the transition shall be 
4 
utilized solely for their intended purposes and of the affected units or 
5 
offices; and 
6 
 
7 
e. Existing contracts and agreements entered into with third parties prior 
8 
to the enactment of this Act shall remain valid. 
9 
 
10 
Sec. 17. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – The Secretary of Health 
11 
shall, in consultation with the Secretary of Budget and Management, Secretary 
12 
of Social Welfare and Development,   and the Chairperson of the NCSC, 
13 
promulgate rules and regulations for the effective implementation                 of 
14 
this Act within ninety (90) days after its effectivity. 
15 
 
Sec. 18. Separability Clause. – If any part or provision of this Act is held 
16 
invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining parts or provisions not affected shall 
17 
remain in full force and   effect. 
18 
 
19 
Sec. 19. Repealing Clause. – All laws, decrees, orders, rules, and regulations, 
20 
and other     issuances or parts thereof, which are contrary to or inconsistent 
21 
with this Act are hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly. 
22 
 
23 
Sec. 20. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
24 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
25 
Approved,