Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. _______ 
INTRODUCED BY REP. PM VARGAS 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING A NURSING HOME FOR HOMELESS AND ABANDONED 
SENIOR CITIZENS IN EVERY CITY OR MUNICIPALITY IN THE 
PHILIPPINES, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, 
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The State provides that provides 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 (Article XV Section 4 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution). 
It is estimated that 90% of the 7 million senior citizens in the Philippines 
are not given sufficient care. This number doubled in 2020 from 8 to 16%.1 
Many Filipino elderlies do not have the financial means necessary to sustain 
an adequate quality of life mainly because they are not able to save for 
retirement while caring for their young dependents.2    
Although the State has institutionalized prioritization of elderly 
Filipinos in the form of programs such as social pension and home care 
services under the Department of Social Welfare and Development, these 
efforts do not adequately address the cases of homeless and abandoned senior 
citizens. 
Currently, most shelter facilities are founded by private organizations 
or religious sectors and are usually situated in only a few and limited key 
cities and municipalities.  
1 Business Mirror. 2022. https://businessmirror.com.ph/2022/07/26/nursing-homes-in-the-
philippines/ Accessed online on August 16, 2022 
2 Philippine Statistics Authority.2018 
August 18, 2022
8:01 am
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This bill seeks to pursue elderly care by providing nursing homes for 
homeless elderly Filipino who have been either neglected or abandoned by 
their families.  Further it seeks the ensure that access to decent, warm, and 
quality homes for the geriatrics is made available across the country by the 
creation of the facilities in every municipality and city of the country. 
 
 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly 
sought. 
 
 
 
REP. PM VARGAS 
Fifth District, Quezon City 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. _______ 
INTRODUCED BY REP. PM VARGAS 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING A NURSING HOME FOR HOMELESS AND ABANDONED 
SENIOR CITIZENS IN EVERY CITY OR MUNICIPALITY IN THE 
PHILIPPINES, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, 
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Home for Homeless 
and Abandoned Senior Citizens Act."  
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 senior citizens. 
Towards this end, the State shall extend assistance to abandoned and 
homeless senior citizens through a social care and security program.  
SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act, the following terms 
shall mean:  
a) Abandoned Senior Citizen refers to a senior citizen who has been
deserted, permanently or temporarily, by his relatives or persons
who have general or legal responsibility over the senior citizen,
and/or from whom all basic care have been withdrawn, whether
willfully or not;
b) Homeless Senior Citizen refers to a senior who lacks a fixed, regular
residence, or whose current residence is unfit for human habitation,
or lacks resources to obtain proper housing;
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c) Nursing Home refers to a home for the aged, established and 
maintained under this Act by a city or municipality which provides 
living accommodations, food and clothing, medical and health care, 
and recreational and social interaction activities for abandoned 
senior citizens or homeless senior citizens;  
 
d) Senior Citizen refers to any resident citizen of the Philippines at least 
sixty (60) years of age. 
 
SECTION 4. Establishment of Nursing Homes. - There shall be established 
in every municipality and city, a nursing home to serve abandoned senior 
citizens and homeless senior 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 senior citizens or abandoned senior 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;  
d) Health care; 
e) Occupational opportunities; 
f) Recreational and social interaction activities;  
g) Counseling;  
h) Case conference; 
i) Family dialogue;  
j) Outreach to existing family for reintegration;  
k) Literacy education;  
a. Productivity development; and 
l) Religious, cultural and vocational activities.  
 
SECTION 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The DSWD, in 
coordination with the Department of Interior and Local Government, the 
Department of Health, the National Commission of Senior Citizens, and the 
Federation of Senior Citizens Associations 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 
later 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 importation of 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. Non-Impairment Clause. – Nothing in this Act shall be 
construed as to diminish, impair, or repeal rights recognized, granted, or 
made available to disadvantaged, marginalized, or specific sectors under 
existing laws. 
 
SECTION 10. 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 11. 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 12. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or at least two (2) national papers of general 
circulation. 
 
Approved,