Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

*+ House Bil No. 7490

Introduced by

Senior Citizens Party-List Representative RODOLFO “OMPONG” M. ORDANES.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Commission on Population and Development (POPCOM) has noted the Philippine
Population is aging with the decline in the rate of the number of yeung population members
and at the same time, there is a doubling growth in the number of senior citizens for the past
two (2) decades. As of the 2020 census of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the
Population of senior citizens accounts for 8.5% of the general population or a total of 9.22
million Filipino elderly. Compared to the 2015 census, there has been an increase of 7.5% in
the senior citizen population, and with the projections from bath institutiahs, itis expected that
the number of Filipino elderly will increase over the years. The aging population also entails
an increase in cases of abandonment, social neglect, and special needs among senior
citizens. Such a reality was manifested in a study about senior citizens during the COVID-19
pandemic. Whereas, findings show despite the existence of enabling laws for senior citizens,
problems such as deprivation of income sources, inaccessibility to essential needs,
inadequate physical space, and spoken negative perceptions are present.

Article XV Section 4 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution states that "The Family has the
duty to care for its elderly members but the State may also do so through just programs of
social security”. With the protection provided by the constitution and the realities on the
ground, it is necessary to legislate and institutionalize long-term policies that shall fill in the

gaps in the current policies for the Filipino elderly and shall provide further provisions for social
protection and security for our senior citizens. Moreover, with the paradigm shift brought about
by the advent of technological advancements, the COVID-19 pandemic, and its underlying


problems such as the economic recession, these realities call for enacting a novel policy that
shall deliver long-term care for Filipino senior citizens to enable them to cope up with
contemporary challenges and undertakings.

This bill seeks to establish a national long-term care program framework, a set of multi-
dimensional programs for senior citizens that aim to promote the quality and long-term care
services for senior citizens through social protection, employment and livelihood, health and
development, and enabling and conducive environment. Through these programs, the gaps
in our national policies shall be addressed, existing issues and concerns among the senior
citizens shall be dealt with, and further protection shalll be provided for their welfare

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

RODOLFO “Om! M. ORDANES


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

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

* Wing 490

House Bill No. *

Introduced by
Senior Citizens Party-List Representative RODOLFO “OMPONG” M. ORDANES

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

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

SECTION 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as “The Long-Term Care for Senior Citizens Act
of 2023”.

SEC 2. Declaration of Policies. - \t is hereby declared the policy of the State to adopt
comprehensive and multi-dimensional social services for the elderly members of the general
Population that shall promote and protect their welfare and well-being as valuable members of
society. For this purpose, the State undertakes to establish and institutionalize programs and
support mechanisms that seek to protect senior citizens from socioeconomic risks and
vulnerabilities.

SEC 3. Definition of Terms. - For the purposes of this Act, the following terms shall be defined

as follows:

a. Senior Citizen - 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 Citizen - refers to those senior citizens who are either frail, sickly,
suffering from any disability, and has no other means to support his/her/their 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 core programs and/or services,
among others:

a.

Social Protection shall cover programs that seek to reduce poverty and vulnerability to

risks and enhance the social status and rights of senior citizens by promoting and

protecting them against hazards and sudden loss of income and improving the capacity
of senior citizens to manage risk.

1. Social Welfare. - Curative and preventive interventions that seek to support the
special needs of senior citizens and to reduce risks associated with old age shall be
provided. These shall include activities aimed at protecting senior citizens from
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, training and awareness
campaigns shall be initiated to raise the public's 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.

2. Livelinood and Job Generation Program. - Senior citizens shall be specifically
targeted in livelihood programs and other poverty alleviation programs. Further,
livelihood programs and other poverty alleviation programs shall guarantee a
minimum income and shall be designed in a manner that increases the productivity
of senior citizens.

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 designed for
families caring for dependents/disabled senior citizens shall likewise be
endeavored.

4. Social Safety Nets. - Stop-gap mechanisms or urgent and immediate responses
shall be instituted to shield senior citizens from vulnerabilities arising from disasters,


emergencies, and displacement due to development projects, natural, and man-

made calamities.

b. Senior Citizens and Development. - This shall include mainstreaming activities such as
life-long technical education and skills development programs for aging preparation
and non-formal education for those sixty (60) years old and above; and the
development of programs that shall allow senior citizens to remain actively engaged in
as many social, economic, political, and community activities as possible. In pursuit of
this, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and the
Commission of Higher Education (CHED) shall create Programs and projects to ensure
access of senior citizens into their courses and programs and design courses and
programs that are specifically designed for them.

¢. Advancing Health and Well-Being. - Integrated and innovative elderly-focused health
and social services shall be made available at the local level. Particular emphasis shall
be 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 said program shall contemplate the following, among
others:

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

2. Free geriatric training for the family, health workers, and other relevant persons
who are tasked to take care of an elderly.

d. Enabling and Supportive Environment. - Provision 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
in every local government unit.

SEC 5. Implementing Agencies. - The National Long-Term Care Program for Senior Citizens
shall be implemented jointly by the Department of Finance (DOF), Department of Health


(DOH), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), various local government units
(LGUs), the Department of Education (DepEd), and the Department of Social Welfare and
Development (DSWD).The National Commission for Senior Citizens created under Republic
Act No. 11350, otherwise known as the “National Commission for Senior Citizens Act’, shall
take the lead in monitoring the implementation of this Act.

SEC 6. Appropriation. - The amount necessary for the implementation of the provisions of
this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act following its enactment into

law.

‘SEC 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within one hundred eighty (180) days from
the effectivity of this Act, the NCSC and other relevant government agencies shall, after due
consultations with other implementing agencies, promulgate the rules and regulations for the
effective implementation of this Act.

SEC 8. Suppletory Application. - For purposes of this Act, the Revised Penal Code, and
other applicable laws, shall have suppletory application.

SEC. 9. Separability Clause. — If any provision of this Act shall be declared unconstitutional
or invalid, such declaration shall not invalidate other parts thereof which shall remain in full
force and effect.

SEC 10. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules, and regulations, or
Parts thereof which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed, amended, or modified

accordingly.

SEC 11. Effectivity.— This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days: after its publication in
the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,