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

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No.4281

Introduced by Representative Marjorie Ann “Maan” A. Teodoro

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Our 1987 Constitution states that Congress shall give highest priority to the enactment of
measures that protect and enhance the right of all the people to human dignity, reduce social and
political inequalities”. Furthermore, “the State shall 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 affordable cost. There shall be priority for the needs,
of the elderly. In line with this, this bill aims to establish and institutionalize long-term care for
senior citizens to improve their physical, mental, and emotional health with the end goal of
improving and promoting their quality of life.

The long-term care program shall be focused on social protection, senior citizens and
development, advancement to health and well-being, and an enabling and supportive
environment. This will help our senior citizens develop a way of living wherein they would be
able to live independently and safely as possible as they can no longer perform everyday activities
as they used to.

As of 2020, the number of Senior Citizens residing in the Philippines is 12,336,355, which
accounts to 11.31% of our population; this number may have already increased in the last two (2)
years. As the rapid growth of ageing population increases, cases of abandonment, neglect,
homelessness, and their special needs increase as well. We must further examine what other
necessities our senior citizens may need, especially now that many of them are more than
dependent on the government for support as some of them are forced to live independently.

With the progression of times, programs and technological advancements have improved
our way of living. This shall include our elderlies. We must put into good use what we have
learned and implemented over the years to provide them with social, political, economic, and
cultural protection through the development of a comprehensive long term care program for our
Senior Citizens.

Therefore, in view of the foregoing, this bill is earnestly sought for.

A. TEODORO


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

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill Nod 291

Introduced by Representative Marjorie Ann “Maan” A, Teodoro

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING AND INSTITUTIONALIZING LONG-TERM CARE FOR SENIOR
CITIZENS, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREOF

Be it enacted by the
assembled:

enate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Long-Term Care for Senior Citizens
Act of 2022”

SEC. 2, Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to 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 affordable cost. There shall be priority
for the needs of the elderly. Towards this end, the State shall establish and institutionalize long-
term care for Senior Citizens to improve their physical and mental health, as well as their
emotional well-being. Furthermore, the State acknowledges the need to improve and promote
the quality of life of Senior Citizens.

SEC. 3. Defini
the following:

n of Terms. ~ For purposes of this Act, the following terms shall be defined as

a. Senior Citizens refers to any person as defined in Section 3 of Republic Act No. 7876
otherwise known as the Senior Citizen Center Act

b. Long-term care refers to a sustained provision of comprehensive programs and services to
Senior Citizens with the view of enabling them to have dignified, healthy and secured
lives.

c. Dependent Senior Citizens refers to those persons who are either frail, sickly, suffering from

any disability, and has no other means to support his/her basic needs.


SEC. 4. National Long-Term Care Program Framework. — A national long-term care program for
Senior Citizens is hereby established which shall embody the following core programs and /or

services, among others:

a. Social Protection shall cover programs which seek to reduce poverty and vulnerability
and enhance the social status and rights to senior citizens by promoting and protecting

them against hazards and sudden los

s of income and improving senior citizens

capacity
to manage risks.

terventions that seek to support the

a1. Social Welfare ~ Curative and preventive i
special needs of Senior Citizens and to reduce risks associated with old age shall be

zens from

provided. These shall include activities aimed at protecting senior
abuse, exploitation, and discrimination. Moreover, prevention and provision of

support services against physical, emotional, and financial abuse, sexual

exploitation, neglect, and abandonment of senior citizens shall be established within
the family and at the community level. Towards this end, trainings and awareness
of the problems confronting senior citizens and to equip the public with the
necessary know-how to prevent and detect problem areas concerning senior

citizens.

a.2, Livelihoodi/Job Generation Progra ~ Senior Citizens shall be specifically targeted in
livelihood programs and other poverty alleviation programs. Further, livelihood

programs shall guarantee a minimum income and shall be designed in a manner

that increases senior citizen's productivity.
a.3. Social Insurance — Existing social insurance programs shall be modified and
expanded to guarantee that Senior Citizens shall be adequately protected from loss
of income and unemployment as a result of old age. Economic and financial support
through other innovative social insurance and pension schemes especially
designated for families caring for dependent/ disabled senior citizens shall likewise

be endeavored.

a4. Sociul Safety Nets~Stop-gap mechanisms or urgent and immediate responses shall

be instituted to shield Senior Citizens from vulnerabilities arising from disasters,

emergency and displacement due to development projects, natural and man-made

calami


ies such as

b. Senior Citizens and Development. - This shall include mainstreaming activ’
lifelong education programs for ageing preparation and non-formal education at the local
level for those sixty (60) years and above and development of programs which will allow
senior citizens to remain actively engaged in as many social, economic and community

activities as possible,

©. Advancing Health and Well-being, - An integrated and innovative elderly-focused

health and social services be made available at the local level. Particularly emphasis shall

made on disease prevention, health promotion, and wellness of mind, body and spirit.
Health services shall comprise preventive, curative and rehabilitative health care services

in all government and private hospitals, local health facilities and other community-based

facilities, The sad program shall contemplate the following among others

1. Homecare and hospice for the frail and dependent elderly and medical and
psychological support for patients requiring continued medical assistance after
discharge.

2. Development and provisions of geriatric training at the family and community
level

3, Mandatory PhilHealth coverage for non-contributory senior citizens especially

the poor.

d. Enabling and Supportive Environment. ~ Provisions of home nursing for the elderly,
facilities for respite care, programs on counseling, professional guidance and emotional
support and low-cost, community-based activities integrated into existing community

health programs as well as strengthening of inter-generational relationships.

Nothing above prevents the agencies tasked to implement the provisions of this Act from
ntroducing other social services and programs designed to promote the National Long-Term for

Senior Citizens.

SEC. 5. Implementing Agencies. - This program shall be implemented by the Department of
Finance, Department of Health, Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of
Social Welfare and Development and the various local government units. The National Inter-
Agency Monitoring Board created under Republic Act No. 9257 otherwise known as the

Expanded Senior Citizens Act shall take the lead in monitoring the implementation of this Act


SEC. 6. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the initial implementation of this Act shall
be included in the annual General Appropriations Act of the year following its enactment into
law and thereafter the local government units shall undertake the maintenance of the institutions

established under this Act.

SEC. 7, Implementing Rules and Regulations. — DSWD, in consultation with other
implementing agencies, shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations necessary for the

implementation of this Act within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this Act.

SEC. 8. Repealing Clause. - All provisions of existing laws, presidential decrees or issuances,
executive orders, letters of instruction, administrative orders, rules and regulations contrary to or
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended, or modified

accordingly.

SEC. 9, Separability Clause. - If any portion of this Act is declared unconstitutional, the same
shall not affect the validity and effectivity of the other provisions not affected thereby.

SEC. 10. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official
Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,