Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 52ad

Introduced by: HON, “KUYA” JOSE ANTONIO R. S"

EXPLANATORY NOTE

According to the statistics provided by countrymeters.info on their page, the current population of
the Philippines as of February 10, 2020 totaled 108,258,622. As of the beginning of 2020, 34.6%
of the population are young people under 15 years old; 61.1% are persons between 15 and 64 years
old; and 4,3% which is almost 4,614,648 are persons above 64 years old, respectively.

Commission on Population (POPCOM) projected that the percentage of elderly people (persons
above 64 years old) in the Philippines will most likely to grow to 5.6% by year 2025 and 6.3% by
2030.

‘The growing percentage of elderly people and the grave problem of poverty boosts the issue of
elderly abandonment in the country. Over one and a half million elderly Filipinos have been
abandoned due to number of reasons. Care centers and homes for the aged is non-existent in the
Philippines."

This measure seeks to establish nursing homes in every province in the Philippines and another
separate nursing homes for every city that will provide mental and physical health support to the
abandoned and less fortunate elderly.

Thus, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

“KUYA” JOSB/ANTONIO R. SY-ALVARADO fy
Representative
First District of Bulacan

2 (Utzurrum)
Utzurrum, B. (n.d.), Elderly Abandonment in the Philippines .



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Quezon City
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

6244
HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by: HON. “KUYA” JOSE ANTONIO R. SY-ALVARADO

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A NURSING HOME FOR HOMELESS AND ABANDONED
ELDERLY FILIPINOS IN EVERY PROVINCE AND ANOTHER SEPERATE
NURSING HOME FOR EVERY CITY IN THE PHILIPPINES APPROPRIATING
FUNDS THEREFOR AND OTHER PURPOSES.

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

SECTION
Elderly Act of 2021

. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Homes for Abandoned

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to
value the dignity of every human person, guarantee full respect for human rights, extend
assistance to its elderly citizens through programs of social security, and promote the right to
health and safety of the elderly citizens. Towards this end, the State shall extend assistance to
abandoned and homeless elderly citizens through social care and security program.

SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act, the following terms shall
mean;

a) Abandoned Elderly Filipino refers to a elderly citizen who has been deserted, permanently
or temporarily, by his relatives or persons who have general or legal responsibility over the
elderly citizen, and /or from whom all basic care have been withdrawn, whether willfully or not;

b) Homeless Elderly Filipino refers to a elderly who lacks a fixed, regular residence, or
whose current residence is unfit for human habitation, or lacks resources to obtain proper
housing;

c) Nursing home refers to a home for the aged, established and maintained under this Act by
a city municipality which provides living accommodations, food and clothing, medical and
health care, and recreational and social interaction activities for abandoned elderly citizens or
homeless elderly citizens,

d) Elderly Citizen refers to any resident citizen of the Philippines at least sixty five (65) years
of age

SECTION 4. Establishment of Nursing Homes. - There shall be established in every
province and city, a nursing home to serve abandoned elderly citizens and homeless elderly
citizens, to be built by the local government units (LGUs) concerned and shall be operated and
maintained by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in coordination with
the (LGUs) concerned.


SECTION 5, Functions of Nursing Homes. - The nursing homes shall provide homeless
elderly citizens or abandoned elderly citizens within its territorial jurisdiction institutionalized
residential care programs and services such as but not limited to;

a. Comfortable living quarters;

'b. Adequate food and clothing;

c. Medical consultation or treatment;

Health care;

e. Occupational opportunities;

>

Recreational and social interaction activities;

g. Counseling:

e

. Case conference;

i, Family dialogue;

j. Outreach to existing family for reintegration;
k. Literacy education;

1. Productivity development;

m. Religious, cultural and vocational activities,

SECTION 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The DSWD, in coordination with
the Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Health and the Federation of
Senior Citizens Association of the Philippines, and Confederation of Older Persons Associations
of the Philippines, shall hereby promulgate the rules and regulations to carry out the provisions
this Act not after than ninety (90) days after its effectivity.

SECTION 7, Exemptions of the Nursing Home. - The established nursing home shall be
exempted from the payment of customs duties, taxes, and tariffs on the information if equipment
and supplies used actually, directly, and exclusively by the nursing home pursuant to this Act,
including those donated to the Nursing Home.

SECTION 8 Appropriations. - The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of this
Act, shall be included in the General Appropriations Act of the year following its enactment into
law and every year thereafter.

SECTION 9. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared invalid or
unconstitutional, the provisions not affected thereby, shall remain in full force and effect.

SECTION 10. Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders,
presidential proclamations, rules and regulations or parts thereof contrary to or inconsistent with
this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 11. Effectiy
in the Official Gazette or,

(~ This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication
least two (2) national papers of general circulation.

Approved.