Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
Nineteenth Congress 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO.________ 
 _______________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by HON. MARK O. GO 
_______________________________________________________________________ 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Article XV, Sec. 4 of the 1987 Constitution provides, “The family has the duty to care for its 
elderly members but the State may also do so through just programs of social security.” 
Senior citizens remain one of the most vulnerable sectors of Philippine society. According to 
PSA data, around 800 thousand, or about 9.1% of senior citizens in the Philippines live below the 
poverty threshold. By region, the highest poverty incidence among senior citizens was in ARMM 
(now BARMM) at 41.7%, followed by Caraga at 30.3%, and Region VIII at 26.9%. Meanwhile, 
poverty incidence among senior citizens in CAR is at 7.2%. 
A study by the PIDS shows that in 2020, only 5.3% of senior citizens are receiving pension 
from the GSIS, 19.9% are SSS pensioners, while 37.9% receive pension from the DSWD’s Social 
Pension for Indigent Senior Citizens (SPISC) program. By this account, close to two fifths or 36.9% 
of Filipino senior citizens do not receive any pension at all. It should be noted that beneficiaries of 
the SPISC program are only receiving a monthly stipend of P500. These pension benefits are also 
not indexed to inflation which has recently shot up to 5.1%.  
While the Constitution provides that the family is primarily responsible for the care of the 
elderly, a study by the Coalition of Services of the Elderly (COSE) shows that in reality, children 
constitute the main source of income only for a minority of the elderly, and that many Filipinos 
either rely on their measly pension for survival or through some sort of economic activity even at 
their advanced age. It further shows that the extent of support the family can give to its elderly is 
limited by a broad variety of competing priorities such that in many cases, economic dependence 
has created tension, anxieties, and disempowerment among the elderly. Meanwhile, many senior 
citizens simply have no family whom they can rely for support. 
The CHR has also noted that elder abuse has increased during the pandemic, which includes 
physical abuse, financial abuse, abandonment, neglect, and serious loss of dignity and respect.  
It is against these present-day realities that the State must intervene to ensure that its elderly is 
taken care of and that their human rights are protected. This bill seeks to contribute in addressing 
the gaps in our social protection system by establishing a wellness  for the elderly in the City of 
Baguio. After years of contributing to national productivity, the establishment of a wellness shelter 
will ensure that Filipino senior citizens will have a place where they can live with dignity and 
August 22, 2022
4:56 pm
3924


security. Apart from providing living accommodations and healthcare specific to its residents’ 
geriatric needs, the wellness shelter will also provide a sense of community which is vital in 
maintaining the physical, psychological, and mental well-being of the elderly. 
As the country continues to strive for sustainable and inclusive growth, the elderly should not 
be left out of the equation.  
In view of the foregoing, the approval of this measure is earnestly sought. 
MARK O. GO 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
Nineteenth Congress 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _________ 
________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by HON. MARK O. GO 
________________________________________________________________ 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING A SENIOR WELLNESS CENTER IN THE CITY BAGUIO 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1.  Declaration of Policy.-- It is hereby declared as the policy of the State to 
provide adequate care and protection to our elderly persons and senior citizens, and to ensure that 
their welfare are adequately considered and prioritized in the implementation of projects, 
programs and social services of the government. 
SEC. 2.  Establishment of the Baguio City Senior Wellness Center.-- The Baguio City 
Senior Wellness Center is hereby established under the control and supervision of the 
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). It shall set the policies and guidelines 
for the qualification of residents. 
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), in coordination with the 
DSWD, shall identify the location of the wellness center and undertake its construction. 
SEC. 3.  Funding.-- The budgetary allocation needed to carry out the provisions of this 
Act is hereby authorized to be included in the General Appropriations Act of the year 
immediately following its enactment into law. 
SEC. 4. Repealing Clause. – All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations 
inconsistent with any provision of this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified 
accordingly. 
SEC. 5.  Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in 
the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
Approved,
3924