NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Third Regular Session
)
SENATE 
S. No. ^^53
\m21 P2-.01
Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE PHILIPPINE GERIATRIC MEDICAL CENTER, 
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "SENIOR CITIZENS' HOSPITAL" AND 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Section 11, Article XIII of the 1987 Constitution declares that, "the State shall 
adopt an integrated and comprehensive approach to health development which shall 
endeavor to make essential goods, health and other social services available to all the 
people at affordable cost. There shall be priority for the needs of the underprivileged, 
sick, elderly, disabled, women, and children. The State shall endeavor to provide free 
medical care to paupers".
The Philippine Constitution clearly articulates the broad policy framework 
relative to older persons. Article XV, Section 4 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".
Based on the second report of the Longitudinal Study of Aging and Health in 
the Philippines (LSAHP) project. Aging and Health in the Philippines, Wave 2 (LSAHP 
Wave 2), states that based on worldwide demographic trends, the Philippines is 
projected to shift to an aging society by 2030, spurred by a recent sharp decline in 
fertility rates and increased life expectancy.
Given the increasing elderly population in the country and the escalating cost 
of healthcare, there is a need to strengthen the support system for senior citizens as 
the Philippines transitions to an aging society by 2030.
By affirming the significant contribution of the older persons, the proposed 
measure recognizes the need to put in place policies and programs that will entitle the 
elderly to adequate social services.


In view of the foregoing, this bill seeks for the establishment of the Philippine 
Geriatric Medical Center, an envisioned world-class tertiary hospital specializing on the 
medical needs of senior citizens.
In this light, the immediate passage of this bill is recommended.
NGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Third Regular Session
)
SENATE
s. No. 2953
25 
m21 P2:01
RLv-
Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE PHILIPPINE GERIATRIC MEDICAL CENTER, 
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "SENIOR CITIZENS' HOSPITAL", AND 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
1 
Section 1. Short Title - This Act shaii be known as the '‘'Philippine Geriatric
2 
Medical Center Act or the "Senior Citizens' Hospital Act'.
3 
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby deciared the policy of the State to
4 
protect and promote the right to health of older persons by ensuring that health
5 
services are available and accessible to them through the establishment of a tertiary
6 
specialty hospital that will cater to their medical needs.
7 
Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act:
8 
a) Geriatric health services refer to the medical services or intervention
9 
provided by a multi-disciplinary team usually headed by a Geriatrician;
10 
b) Geriatrician refers to a medical doctor who has passed the necessary
11 
training and examination, and specializes in the field of Geriatrics;
12 
c) Geriatrics refers to the sub-specialty of Internal Medicine that aims to
13 
promote health, and to prevent and treat disabilities of older adults;
14 
d) Senior citizens or older persons refer to Filipino citizens who are at least
15 
sixty (60) years old.


1 
Sec. 4. Establishment and the Location of the Philippine Geriatric Medical
2 
Center. - There shall be established a tertiary specialty hospital for geriatrics in the
3 
City of Cagayan de Oro or the Province of Misamis Oriental to be known as the
4 
Philippine Geriatric Medical Center (PGMC) or the Senior Citizens' Hospital. It shall be
5 
authorized to operate a two hundred (200) bed capacity hospital dedicated to senior
6 
citizens or older persons.
7 
Sec. 5. Board of Trustees. - The PGMC shall be administered by a Board of
8 
Trustees, hereinafter referred to as the Board, to be composed of seven (7) members
9 
to be appointed by the President of the Philippines.
10 
The seven (7) appointive members of the Board of Trustees shall serve for a
11 
period of four (4) years and until their successors shall have been appointed and
12 
qualified. Any vacancy in the Board shall be filled by appointment by the President of
13 
the Philippines, and the appointee shall serve for the unexpired term. The Board of
14 
Trustees of the PGMC shall elect a Chairman from among themselves, who shall be
15 
the presiding officer of the Board of Trustees.
16 
The Medical Director shall act as the chief executive officer of the PGMC, with
17 
authority, among others, to appoint, remove, and fix the compensation of the
18 
personnel thereof, subject to the approval of the Board of Trustees.
19 
Four (4) members of the Board of Trustees shall constitute a quorum to
20 
transact business and any decision of such 4 members on any matter duly presented
21 
to the Board of Trustees shall constitute a valid and binding act of the PGMC.
22 
Sec. 6. Objectives. - The PGMC shall have the following objectives:
23 
a) To construct, operate, administer and maintain an integrated medical
24 
institution, which shall specialize in geriatric health services;
25 
b) To provide and maintain quality, affordable and timely hospital care which
26 
prioritizes the need of the elderly and the indigent citizens;
27 
c) To assist in the education and training of geriatricians, nurses, health
28 
officers, social workers, and other medical and technical personnel in the
29 
practical and scientific implementation of health services to the older
30 
persons; and
31 
d) To facilitate and encourage the dissemination of information on the
32 
prevention, treatment and control of age-related diseases.


1 
Sec. 7. Powers. - For the attainment of the objectives, the PGMC, as a body
2 
corporate, acting through its Board of Trustees shall have all the powers pertaining to
3 
a juridical person, and is therefore authorized, among other things:
4 
a) To adopt a set of by-laws, rules and regulations not inconsistent with law
5 
and the provisions hereof to govern the administration and operation of the
6 
affairs of the PGMC;
7 
b) Formulate and develop programs for the enhancement of healthcare
8 
services for older persons, including the training of PGMC geriatricians,
9 
resident doctors, nurses, health officers, social workers, and other medical
10 
and technical personnel;
11 
c) Enter into such agreements and arrangements with other medical
12 
institutions, domestic or foreign, as may be necessary, in attaining the
13 
objectives of the PGMC;
14 
d) To acquire and hold in any manner property of whatever nature or
15 
description, and to dispose of such property under any mode of
16 
encumbrance or conveyance;
17 
e) To solicit and receive donations, endowments and funds in the form of
18 
contributions, whether in cash or in kind, from both the public and private
19 
sectors;
20 
f) To invite foreign geriatricians and similar experts in the various medical
21 
fields not available in the country in order to train the personnel or trainees
22 
or residents of PGMC;
23 
g) To send the personnel of the PGMC to research institutes, medical institutes
24 
or universities for advance training or observation and to attend
25 
international or regional conventions, conferences, congresses, seminars as
26 
the Board may deem necessary to accomplish the objectives of the PGMC;
27 
and
28 
h) To do all such other acts and things as may be necessary or incidental for
29 
the accomplishment of the objectives of the PGMC.
30 
Sec. 8. Program for Indigents. — The Board shall ensure that the PGMC shall
31 
adopt and enforce a program for indigents. The number of beds allocated for the


1 
indigent patients shall not be less that fifty percent (50%) of the total number of
2 
hospital beds.
3 
Sec. 9. Tax Exemptions. - Any donation, bequest and grant shall be exempt
4 
from donor's tax and the same shall be considered as allowable deduction from the
5 
gross income of the donor in accordance with the provisions of the National Internal
6 
Revenue Code ofl997, as amended.
7 
The PGMC is hereby declared exempt from all income and all other internal
8 
revenue taxes, tariff, and customs duties and all other kinds of taxes, fees, charges,
9 
and amendments levied by the government and its political subdivisions, agencies,
10 
and instrumentalities.
11 
Sec. 10. Assistance from Government Offices. - The PGMC may call upon any
12 
bureau, office, agency or instrumentality of the government, including government-
13 
owned or controlled corporations, for such assistance as it may need in the pursuit of
14 
its purposes and objectives.
15 
All individuals, entities and institutions are hereby enjoined to render full
16 
assistance and cooperation to PGMC in the accomplishment of its objectives and
17 
activities.
18 
Sec. 11. Auditing. - The books and accounts of the PGMC shall be under the
19 
charge of a Resident Auditor, subject to periodic auditing by the Chairman of the
20 
Commission on Audit, or his duly authorized representative.
21 
Sec. 12. Annuai Report. - The PGMC shall render to the President of the
22 
Philippines an annual report of its activities and recommendations.
23 
Sec. 13. Effect of Dissoiution. - If, for any reason the PGMC is dissolved, its
24 
property remaining at the time of such dissolution shall revert to the Philippine
25 
Government for dissolution in accordance with law.
26 
Sec. 14. Appropriations. - The Secretary of Health shall immediately include in
27 
the Department's programs the implementation of this Act, the funding of which shall
28 
be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.
29 
Sec. 15. Impiementing Ruies and Reguiations. — Within sixty (60) days from
30 
the effectivity of this Act, the DOH, in coordination with the Department of Social
31 
Welfare and Development, and the Department of Budget and Management, shall


1 
promulgate such rules and regulations necessary for the effective implementation of
2 
this Act.
3 
Sec. 16. Separability Clause. - Should any provision or part of this Act be
4 
declared unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions and parts hereof, insofar as
5 
they are separable from the invalid ones, shall remain in full force and effect.
6 
Sec. 17. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, proclamation,
7 
rules and regulations, and other issuances or parts thereof which are inconsistent with
8 
this Act are hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.
9 
Sec. 18. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
10 
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general
11 
circulation.
Approved,