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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES :
Quezon City, Metro Manila US 0¢ x

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No__ 1653.

Introduced by HON. LINABELLE RUTH R. VILLARICA
4TH DISTRICT, BULACAN

EXPLANATORY NOTE,

The State must provide for a long-term care program for our senior citizens. This is in
recognition for their invaluable contribution to nation-building

Presently, however, the unrequited care that is given to the elderly is only extended to the
members of our own families. Those who have been abandoned and neglected by their loved ones find
themselves unattended and helpless in their advance age.

This bill seeks to mandate the State to institutionalize a long-term care and services for our
senior citizens. This will alleviate the living conditions of the elderly, including the unwanted and
deserted.

This proposed bill was filed during the 15" Congress and was referred to the House Committee
on Population and Family Relations. It was not taken up due to time constraints. This bill is filed for
the consideration of the 16" Congress

Support for the enactment of this measure is earnestly requested

Sth itleer

REP. LINABELLE RUTH R. VILLARICA


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

1653

House Bill No.

Introduced by HON. LINABELLE RUTH R. VILLARICA
4TH DISTRICT, BULACAN

AN ACT ESTABLISHING AND INSTITUTIONALIZING LONG-TERM CARE FOR SENIOR
CITIZENS, PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

SECTION 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as “The Long-term Care for Senior Citizens Act of
2012”

SEC. 2, Declaration of Policies. - The State recognizes the invaluable contribution of senior
citizens to the national development program. Accordingly, itis hereby declared the policy of the State
to provide adequate and effective social services to all members of society especially senior citizens so
they may live prosperously and enjoy the fruits of their labor. For this purpose, the State undertakes to
establish and initiate programs as well as to support endeavors aimed at promoting and advancing the
social and economic well-being of senior citizens.

SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the following terms shall be construed to
mean as follows:

a.) A “senior citizen” refers to any person as defined in Section of Republic Act No. 7876, otherwise
known as the Senior Citizen Center Act.

b.) Long-term care refers to a sustained provision of comprehensive programs and services to senior
citizens with the view of enabling them to have dignified, healthy and secured lives.

c.) Dependent senior citizens refers to those persons who are either frail, sickly, suffering from any
disability, and has no other means to support his/her basic needs.

SEC. 4, National Long-term Care Program Framework. - A national long-term care program
for senior citizens is hereby established which shall embody the following core programs and/or
services, among others


a.) Social Protection. Covers programs which seek to reduce poverty and vulnerability to risks and

enhance the social status and rights of senor citizens by promoting and protecting them against hazards
and sudden loss of income and improving their capacity to manage risk

a.1, Social Welfare - Curative and preventive interventions that seek to support the special needs of
senior citizens and to reduce risks associated with old age shall be provided. These shall include
activities aimed at protecting senior citizens from abuse, exploitation and discrimination. Moreover,
prevention and provision of support services against physical, emotional and financial abuse, sexual
exploitation, neglect and abandonment of senior citizens shall be established within the family and at
the community level. Towards this end, trainings and awareness campaigns shall be initiated to raise
public consciousness on the problems affecting senior citizens and some of its possible solutions

b.2. Livelihood/job Generation Program — There shall be practical livelihood and other poverty
alleviation programs for senior citizens. Livelihood programs shall guarantee a minimum income and
shall be designed in a way as to make senior citizens productive

3. Social Insurance. Existing social insurance programs shall be modified and expanded to
guarantee that senior citizens shall be adequately protected from loss of income and unemployment as
a result of old age. Economic and financial support through other innovative social insurance and
pension schemes specially designed for families caring for dependents/disabled senior citizens shall
likewise be endeavored

4, Social Safety Nets. Stop-gap mechanisms or urgent and immediate responses shall be instituted
to protect senior citizens from the ill-effects of natural or man-made disasters as well as emergency and
displacement due to development projects

b,) Senior Citizens and Development. Development programs to allow senior citizens to remain
actively engaged in multifarious social, economic and community activities. This should be
implemented at the local level

c.) Advancing Health and Well-being. Health and social services program shall be available to the
elderly. Health services consists of prevention, curative and rehabilitative activities. This shall be
available in all government and private hospitals as well as in local health facilities. The program shall
offer the following:

c.1. Home and hospice care for the frail and dependent elderly and medical and psychological
support for patients requiring continued medical assistance after discharge

©.2. Development and provision of geriatric training at the family and community level.

3. Mandatory PHILHEALTH coverage for non-contributory senior citizens especially the
poor.


4) Enabling and Supportive Environment. Provision of home nursing for the elderly, facilities for
respite care, programs on counseling, professional guidance and emotional support and low-cost
community-based activities integrated into existing community health programs as well as
strengthening the inter-generational relationships

Nothing above prevents the agencies tasked to implement the provisions of this Act from
introducing other social services and programs designed to promote the National Long-Term Care
Program for Senior Citizens

SEC. 5. Implementing Agencies. - The National Long-Term Care Program for Senior Citizens
shall be implemented jointly by the Department of Finance (DOF), Department of Health (DOH),
Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Department of Social Welfare and
Development (DSWD). The National Inter-Agency Monitoring Board created under Republic Act No.
9257, otherwise known as the “Expanded Senior Citizens Act” shall take the lead in monitoring the
implementation of this Act

SEC. 6. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act shall be
included in the annual General Appropriations Act of the year following its enactment into law and
thereafter the local government units shall undertake the maintenance of the institutions established
under this Act.

SEC. 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of
this Act, the DSWD, after due consultations with the other implementing agencies, shall promulgate the
necessary rules and regulations necessary for the orderly implementation of this Act

SEC. 8. Separability Clause. - If any part of this Act is declared unconstitutional or invalid, the
other provisions not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.

SEC. 9. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, rules and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent
with this Act are hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly.

SEC. 10. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete publication
in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,