FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session 
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Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Statistics uncover a frightening picture of elder abuse in this country. One of 
every 20 elderly people will be a victim of neglect or physical, psychological or financial 
abuse this year. 
There are four general categories of elder abuse namely physical abuse, 
psychological abuse, financial abuse and neglect or abandonment by caregivers. As 
elders become more physically frail, they are less able to stand up to bullying or to fight 
back if attacked. They may not see or hear as well or think as clearly as they used to, 
leaving openings for unscrupulous people to take advantage of them. Mental or physical 
ailments may make them more trying companions for the people who live with them. 
Physical elder abuse is non-accidental use of force against an elderly person that 
results in physical pain, injury, or impairment. Such abuse includes not only physical 
assaults such as hitting or shoving but the inappropriate use of drugs, restraints, or 
confinement. In emotional or psychological senior abuse, people speak to or treat elderly 
persons in ways that cause emotional pain or distress. Verbal forms of emotional elder 
abuse include intimidation through yelling or threats, humiliation and ridicule, and 
habitual blaming. Nonverbal psychological elder abuse can take the form of ignoring the 
elderly person, isolating an elder from friends or activities, and terrorizing or menacing 
the elderly person. Financial exploitation involves unauthorized use of ail elderly 
person's funds or property, either by a caregiver or an outside scam artist. Elder neglect, 
failure to fulfill a caretaking obligation, constitutes more than half of all reported cases of 


elder abuse. It can he active (intentional) or passive (unintentional, based on factors such 
as ignorance or denial that an elderly charge needs as much care as he or she does). 
As the elderly population multiplies, so will the incidence of elder abuse It is 
about time that we recognize the seriousness of the problem and take steps to prevent it, 


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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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Second Regular Session 
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Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING ELDER SERVE COORDINATING COUNCILS THAT PROVIDE 
FOR EMERGENCY CRISIS RESPONSE TEAMS TO COMBAT ELDERLY ABUSE 
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 “Elder Serve Act of 
2008”. 
SECTION 2. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act unless the context 
indicates otherwise, the following definition of terms shall be adopted: 
1. “Elder Abuse” refers to any type of violence or abuse, whether mental or 
physical, inflicted upon an elderly individual. 
2. “Elderly Individual” refers to any individual who is aged 60 or older. 
SECTION 3. Establishment of 
Elder Serve Coordinating Councils Pilot 
Programs. - The Secretary of Justice, in coordination with the Secretary of Social 
Welfare and Development, shall carry out a three-year grant program to be known as the 
Elder Serve Coordinating Councils grant program to provide grants to eligible entities to 
establish pilot programs to facilitate and coordinate programs described in Section 5 for 
victims of elder abuse. 
SECTION 4. Eligibility Requirements for Grantees. -To be eligible to receive a 
grant under the Prograni, an entity must meet the following criteria: 
1. 
Coordination with Local Community Based Agencies and Services - The 
entity shall demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Director that such entity has 
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a record of community coordination or established contacts with other county 
and local services that serve elderly individuals. 
2. 
Ability to Create Emergency Crisis Response Team (ECRT) on a Timely 
Basis - The entity shall demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Secretary the 
ability of the entity to create, not later than 6 months after receiving such 
grant, an Emergency Crisis Response Team program described in Sections 5 
and 6. 
For purposes of meeting the criteria described in Section 4(2), for each 
year an entity receives a grant under this section the entity shall provide a 
record of community coordination or established contacts described in such 
paragraph through memorandums of understanding, contracts, subcontracts, 
and other such documentation. 
SECTION 5. Use of Grants. - Each entity that receives a grant under this section 
shall use such grant to establish an Emergency Crisis Response Team program by not 
later than the date that is six months after the entity receives the grant. Under such 
program the following shall apply: 
I. Such program shall include immediate, short-term emergency services, 
including shelter, care services, food, clothing, transportation to medical or 
legal appointment as appropriate, and any other life-services deemed 
necessary by the entity for victims of elder abuse. 
2. Such program shall provide services only to victims of elder abuse who have 
been referred to the program through the adult protective services agency of 
the local law enforcement or any other relevant law enforcement or referral 
agency. 
3. A victim of elder abuse may not receive short-term housing under the program 
for more than five consecutive days. 
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4. The entity that established the program shall enter into arrangements with the 
relevant local law enforcement agencies so that the program receives weekly 
reports from such agencies on elder abuse. 
SECTION 6. Additional Services Required to be Provided. - Not later than one 
year after the date an entity receives a grant under this section, such entity shall have 
established the following programs including community collaborations to support such 
programs: 
1. Counseling - A program that provides counseling and assistance for victims 
of elder abuse accessing health care, educational, pension, or other benefits for 
which seniors may be eligible under applicable law. 
2. Mental Health Screening - A program that provides mental health screenings 
for victims of elder abuse to identify and seek assistance for potential mental 
health disorders such as depression or substance abuse. 
3. Emergency Legal Advocacy - A program that provides legal advocacy for 
victims of elder abuse. 
4. Job Placement Assistance - A program that provides job placement assistance 
and information on employment, training, or volunteer opportunities for victims 
of elder abuse. 
5. Bereavement Counseling - A program that provides bereavement counseling 
for families of victims of elder abuse. 
6. Other Services - A program that provides such other care, services, and 
assistance as the entity considers appropriate for purposes of the pilot program. 
SECTION 7. Appropriation. - The amount of Five million pesos (PS,OOO,OOO.OO) 
is hereby authorized to be appropriated for establishment of Elder Serve Coordinating 
Councils. Thereafter, the funds necessary for the operation of the program shall be 
included in the General Appropriations Act. 
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remain valid and subsisting. 
SECTION 8. Separability Clause. - If my provision or part thereof is held invalid 
or unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall 
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amended accordingly. 
SECTION 9. Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential decree or issuance, 
executive orders, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule and regulation contrary 
to, or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, modified, or 
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SECTION 10. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
following its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
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Approved, 
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