EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
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SEN
S. No.
.X
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o( tljf flirtrriarp
'19 
AUG 20 
P 3 26
Introduced by Senator Grace Poe
RECElv.DB^.
AN ACT
TO ESTABLISH PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES TO AID VICTIMS OF ELDER 
ABUSE, AND PROVIDE TRAINING TO HEALTH AND GOVERNMENT 
PROFESSIONALS IN THE ASSISTANCE OF SUCH VICTIMS
Explanatory Note
The Constitution, Article 2, Section 11, provides:
The State values the dignity of every human person 
and guarantees full respect for human rights.
Article 15, Section 4 provides:
The family has the duty to take care of its elderly 
members 
but the State may also do so through just 
programs of social security.
The traditional high regard for older persons remains characteristic of Filipino 
families. This notwithstanding, their special needs such as health care, safety, 
security and other social services need to be addressed not only by their families and 
communities but also by the whole government machinery. They are vulnerable to 
neglect as the pressures of economic survival impinge on Filipino families. In 1970, 
for every one elderly there were about 11 working people from whom support could 
be drawn. By 2020, studies indicate that there will only be six people of productive 
age to support the elderly.


Some family members, feeling that the elderly have become a burden on the 
household, have given in to violence. In fact, a particularly alarming development is 
the incidence of eider abuse. As elders become frailer, they are less able to stand up 
to bullying or to fight back if attacked. They may not see or hear as well or think as 
clearly as they used to, leaving openings for unscrupulous people to take advantage 
of them. The World Health Organization has defined elder abuse as "a single, or 
repeated act, or lack of appropriate action, occurring within any relationship where 
there is an expectation of trust, which causes harm or distress to an older person." 
The core feature of this definition is that it focuses on harms where there is 
"expectation of trust" of the older person toward their abuser. Thus it includes harm 
by people the older person knows or with whom they have a relationship, such as a 
spouse, partner or family member, a neighbor, or people that the older person rely 
on for services. The term does not include general criminal activity against older 
persons.
Studies show that there are several types of elder abuse:
Physical abuse - This abuse includes not only physical assaults such as hitting 
or shoving but also the inappropriate use of drugs, restraints, or confinement. 
Emotional/psychological abuse - The abuse may be verbal or nonverbal. 
Verbal forms of abuse may include intimidation, humiliation and ridicule, or 
habitual blaming or scapegoating. Nonverbal forms of abuse are ignoring the 
elderly person, isolating him or her from friends or other family members and 
activities, or terrorizing him or her.
Sexual abuse - Such contact can involve physical sex acts, but activities such 
as showing an elderly person pornographic material, or forcing the elder to 
undress are also considered sexual elder abuse.
Neglect or abandonment by caregivers - Elder neglect or failure to fulfill a 
caretaking obligation can be active (intentional) or passive (unintentional, 
based on factors such as ignorance or denial that an elderly charge needs as 
much care as he or she does).


• 
Financial exploitation -  Financial exploitation involves the unauthorized use of 
an elderly person's funds or property, either by a caregiver or an outside 
scam artist.
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Healthcare fraud and abuse - Examples of healthcare fraud and abuse include 
charging for healthcare, which has not been provided, overcharging or double 
billing for services.
This bill proposes the establishment of an assistance program to victims of elder 
abuse and the training of health and government professionals in the assistance of 
such victims.1
This bill was originally filed in the third regular session of the 14,h Congress.
"j


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
S E N A T E
s. No. 946
^ c n a tf 
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M ltr of lljt i>rrrrtarj>
*19 
AUG 20 P3 26
Introduced by Senator Grace Poe
RECEiv/.DBV 
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AN ACT
TO ESTABLISH PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES TO AID VICTIMS OF ELDER
ABUSE, AND PROVIDE TRAINING TO HEALTH AND GOVERNMENT 
PROFESSIONALS IN THE ASSISTANCE OF SUCH VICTIMS
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House o f Representatives o f the 
Philippines in Congress assembled:
Section 1. Short Tide. -  This Act shall be known as the "Elder Victim 
Assistance Act."
Sec. 2. Declaration o f Policy — It is the policy of the State to protect and 
promote the right to health and safety of the elderly. 
Towards this end, it shall 
ensure that there will be: (1) coordination among service systems and disciplines to 
prevent elder abuse and combat crimes against the elderly; (2) increase knowledge 
among professionals serving the elderly about elder abuse; (3) increase public 
awareness of elder abuse and the seriousness of crimes against the elderly; and (4) 
promote public education of the elderly to enable them to avoid being victimized, 
abused, or exploited.
Sec. 3. Definitions. -  For purposes of this Act, the term:
a) "Elder" -  refers to an individual age 60 or older.
b) "Elder abuse" -  refers to a single, or repeated act, or lack of appropriate 
action, occurring within any relationship where there is an expectation of 
trust, which causes harm or distress to an older person.
c) 
DSWD — shall refer to the Department of Social Work and Development.
d) "Secretary" -  shall refer to the Secretary of the Department of Social Work 
and Development (DSWD).
e) "DOF" -  shall refer to the Department of Finance.


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f) "DOH" -  shall refer to the Department of Health.
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g) "DILG" -  shall refer to the Department of Interior and Local Government.
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Sec. 4. Establishment o f Elder Victim Assistance and Programs. -  An inter-
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agency task force shall be created, mandated to establish and implement an Elder
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Victim Assistance Program. The task force shall be chaired by the DSWD. The other
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members of this task force shall include the DOF, the DOH, the DILG, non-
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government organizations such as the National Federation of Senior Citizens
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Association of the Philippines (NFSCAP) and the Coalition of Social Services for the
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Elderly (COSE). The program shall be implemented in coordination with relevant
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national and local and community-based public entities such as the municipal Office
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of Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA), private agencies and other entities relating to elder
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abuse, neglect, and exploitation and other crimes against elderly individuals. The
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program shall provide services to all victims of elder abuse. The services shall
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include:
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1) Immediate, 
short-term 
emergency services, 
including 
shelter, 
care
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services, food, clothing, transportation to medical or legal appointment as
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appropriate, and any other life services deemed necessary by the entity
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for victims of elder abuse.
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2) Counseling and assistance for victims of elder abuse in accessing health
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care, educational, pension, or other benefits for which seniors may be
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eligible under law.
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3) Mental health screenings for victims of elder abuse to identify and seek
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assistance for potential mental health disorders such as depression or
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substance abuse.
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4) Emergency legal advocacy for victims of elder abuse and, as appropriate,
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their families.
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5) Job placement assistance and information on employment, training, or
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volunteer opportunities for victims of elder abuse.
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6) Bereavement counseling for families of victims of elder abuse.
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7) Education of the elderly to enable them to avoid being victimized, abused,
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or exploited.
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8) Other services considered appropriate for purposes of the program.


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Sec. 5. Technical Assistance -  The Secretary of the DSWD, as task force 
director, shall enter into contracts with private entities with experience in elder 
abuse coordination or victim sen/ices to provide such technical assistance as the 
entity determines appropriate.
Sec. 6. Reports from law enforcement agencies. - Law enforcement agencies 
shall submit quarterly reports to the Task Force on incidents of elder abuse.
Sec. 7. 
Public information on elderly abuse. -  The task force shall 
immediately adopt a program that shall raise awareness of the public on the issue of 
elder abuse.
Sec. 8. 
Continuing Education and Training o f Health Personnel and Service 
Providers on Elder Abuse. - All DSWD and DOH staff and professionals providing 
various health services are mandated to undergo a mandatory continuing education 
and training program to sensitize and empower them to become effective front- 
liners in the delivery of health service to the victims of elderly abuse .
Sec. 9. Appropriation. — To carry out the provisions of this Act, such amount 
as may be necessary is hereby authorized to be appropriated from the National 
Treasury. Thereafter, the amount necessary for the continuous operation of this 
Elder Victim Program shall be included in the annual appropriation of the DSWD.
Sec. 10. Separability Clause. -  If any provision or part of this Act is held 
invalid or unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise 
affected shall remain valid and subsisting.
Sec. 11. Repealing Clause. -  Any law, presidential decree or issuance, 
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary 
to or is inconsistent with the provision of this Act is repealed, modified, or amended 
accordingly.
Sec. 12. Effectivity Clause. -  This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after 
its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.
Approved.