FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC' 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
S. No. 2734 
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'11 
ttAR -7 P2 :37 
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. I,..apid 
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EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The state of Philippine health care poses seemingly unending problems of lack of well-
equipped facilities and inadequately-manned hospitals and centers brought about by the 
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perennial problem of scarcity of funds. Because of this problem, a significant number of ill and 
aging members of the population, remain untreated, ~r at the very least, are left to endure the 
rest of their days withdut even a check-up from medical professionals. 
To make matters even more depressing, a number of these /%s and /o/as, as they are 
fondly called in our native language, are left by their own families in the streets, forCing them to 
fend for themselves, leaving them with no food, shelter and other basic necessities. At their old 
age, they are left to beg for money to buy food, and to seek for temporary shelter in times of 
heavy rain or during the cold season. 
As Filipinos, we have been raised in a culture which gives much importance to 
indigenous values SUCh as pakikipagkapwa-tao, which is the regard for the dignity of other 
people. Moreover, our culture instills in each and everyone of us a strong sense of family, 
particularly a high regard for our elders. 
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The Department of Social Welfare and ,Development, towards this end, has 
spearheaded the establishment of the Haven for the E,lderly (formerly known as Golden Acres) 
in Sampaloc, Tanay, Rizal. The Haven for the Eldetly is a government-run residential care 
facility which takes care of the neglected, abandoned and homeless elderly members of society. 
Two other similar facilities may be found in Zamboanga City in Region IX and in Davao Oriental 
in Region XI. 
Each center provides a number of abandoned and homeless elderly with comfortable 
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living quarters, adequate food, clothing, occupational and recreational activities, rehabilitation, 
medical consultation and treatment, and opportunities for social interaction and relaxation. 
Every abandoned and homeless elderly deserves to be afforded the opportunity to live 
the most normal life possible, and these centers offer them the opportunity of living a decent life 


where their most basic necessities are met. 
Article 2, Section 11 of the 1987 Constitution provides: 
Sec. 2. The State values the dignity of r;very human person and guarantees full 
respect for human rights. 
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Moreover, Article l\i5, Section 4, provides: 
Sec. 4. The family has the duty to care for its elderly members but the State may 
also do so through just programs of social security. 
This bill seeks to establish a home for the eld,erly in every region, facilities that would 
cater to abandon~d and homeless older persons, to be operated by the Department of Social 
Welfare and Development. . 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
, 
M~~O" 
M. LAPID 
Senator 
IV'1 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC ' 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
) 
) 
First Regular Session 
'11 
MAR -7 P 2 :38 
SENATE 
S. No. 273.4 
" 
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. ~qpid 
AN ACT , 
ESTABLISHING HOMES FOR THE ELDERLY IN EVERY REGION, 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Short Title. This Act shall be known as the "Neglected, Abandoned 
and Homeless Elderly Assistance Act of 2011 ': 
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SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. It is hereby declared the policy of the State to: 
(1) value the dignity of every human person, (2) guarantee full respect for human rights, 
(3) extend assistance to its elderly members through just programs of social security, 
and (4) protect and promote the right to health and safety of the elderly. 
SECTION 3, Definition of Terms. As used in this Act, the following terms shall 
mean: 
a. "Elder" refers to an individual age 60 or older 
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b. "DSWD" shall refer to the Department of Social Welfare and 
Development 
c. "Philhealth" shall refer to the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation 
SECTION 4. Center for the Elderly. There shall be established seventeen (17) 
Centers for the Elderly, one (1) in every region ~o be operated by the Department of 
Social Welfare a(1d Development, to include the, National Capital Region, Cordillera 
Administrative Region, 1I0cos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, CALABARZON, 
MIMAROPA, Bicol Region, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, 
Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Davao Region, SOCCSKSARGEN, Caraga 
Region, and the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao. 


SECTION 5. Each Center for the Elderly shall provide a number of abandoned 
and homeless elderly with comfortable living quarters, adequate food, clothing, 
occupational and recreational activities, rehabilitation, medical consultation and 
treatment, and opportunities for social interaction and relaxation. 
SECTION 6. Sources of Funds and Method of Collection. The funds to be used 
for the construction, maintenance and miscellaneous expe,nses. for .operation of these 
centers shall be sourced out from the following agencies, but not lim'ited to: 
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a) Not less than one percent (1 %) of the annual revenye collected by the 
Philippine Health Insurance Corporation 
b) Any other appropriations from the General Appropriations Act; and 
c) Donations and grants from domestic and international sources duly 
acceptedlapproved by the DSWD which do not constitute a breach of 
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Philippines laws and recognized international treaties. 
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SECTION 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations.' As th.e lead agency, the 
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) 
~hall formulate the 
implementing rules and regulations of this Act not later than 120 days after its passage 
into law. 
SECTION 8. Separability Clause. If any provision or part hereof, is held invalid 
or unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall 
remain valid and subsisting. 
SECTION 9. Repealing Clause. Any law, presidential decree or issuance, 
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executive order, letter of instruction, administrativ.e order, rule or regulation contrary to, 
or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended 
accordingly. 
SECTION 10. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after 
its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,