Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
It is difficult to imagine elderly abandonment as real in the Philippines. Family 
relationships, even those up to the second and third degree of affinity matter. However, 
abandoning the elderly in the country is slowly and silently increasing in number. 
More than 8 million, or 8.2 percent, of the Philippines’ population of 108.9 million are 
aged 60 and above, per a report of the Commission on Population and Development. 
Of this group, 5 million (or 4.7 percent) are aged 65 and older. 
Our senior citizens are expected to increase in number in the coming years, and 
abandonment is an issue that our government has to face. At present, the care for 
abandonment elderly often go to the care of private and religious institutions. 
The rising incidents of abandonment of the elderly in the country can be attributed to 
various reasons including rising cost of living, lack of health insurance, busy schedules 
and more. This bill seeks to establish a nursing home that will care for the elderly to 
be operated by the Department of Social Welfare and Development in every city or 
municipality in the Philippines. 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
May 22, 2023
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
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 "Homes for Abandoned 
Seniors Act." 
Sec. 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. 
Sec. 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 has
been withdrawn, whether willfully or not;
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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; 
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. 
 
Sec. 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. 
 
Sec. 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; 
l. 
Productivity development; 
m. 
Religious, cultural and vocational activities. 
 


 
Sec. 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 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. 
 
Sec. 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. 
 
Sec. 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. 
 
Sec. 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. 
 
Sec. 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. 
 
Sec. 11. 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,