Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS.
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No!588

Introduced by HONORABLE LUIS RAYMUND F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Regard, respect and care for our elders are deeply embedded in our culture. This is
reflected in our very own Constitution, which states that it is the duty of the family to to
take care of the elderly while the State may design just programs of social security

This measure proposes long-term care programs for the Senior Citizens that shall
endeavor to make essential goods, health and other social services available to all the
people at affordable cost. This is in light of the fact that poverty incidence in our country
is at its highest with the senior citizens. A majority of our senior citizens simply rely on
pensions, gifts or some allowances given by relatives to make ends meet. Some are
even doing odd jobs to give additional financial support to other family members.

This bill intends to be a vehicle in promoting quality and long-term care and services to
Senior Citizens. This includes the grant of affordable and better service to the elders
that will alleviate their difficulties regarding services that they are entitled to. It also
seeks to help Senior Citizens in improving their total well-being and their full
participation in society, considering that senior citizens are an integral part of Philippine
society

In consideration of the foregoing premises, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

Y” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL no. 608

Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.

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 Philippines in
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Title.

This Act shall be known as the “The Long-Term Care for
Senior Citizens Act of 2018”.

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policies. ~ The State recognizes the invaluable
contribution of senior citizens to the national development program. Accordingly, it is
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 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.

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

a. A ‘senior citizens” refers to any persons as defined in Section 3 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 citizen refers to those persons who are either frail,
sickly, suffering from any disability, and has no other means to support
his/her basic needs.

SECTION 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 shall cover programs which seek to reduce poverty and
vulnerability and enhance the social status and rights of senior citizens by
promoting and protecting them against hazards and sudden loss of income,
and improving senior citizen's capacity to manage risks.

a.1. Social Welfare. Curative and preventive interventions that seek to
support the special needs of Senior Citizens and to reduce tisks
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 of the problems confronting senior citizens and to equip the
public with the necessary know-how to prevent and detect problem areas
concerning senior citizens.

a.2. Livelinood/Job Generation Program. Senior citizens shall be
specifically targeted in livelihood programs and other poverty alleviation
programs. Further, livelihood programs shall guarantee a minimum
income and shall be designed in a manner that increases senior citizens’
productivity.

a.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
pf old age. Economic and financial support through other innovative social
insurance and pension schemes especially designated for families caring
for dependents/disabled senior citizens shall likewise e endeavored.

a.4. Social Safety Nets. Stop-gap mechanism or urgent and immediate
responses shall be instituted to shield senior citizens from vulnerabilities
arising from disasters, emergency and displacement due to development
projects, natural and man-made calamities.

b. Senior Citizens and Development. This shall include mainstreaming
activities such as lifelong education programs for ageing preparation and non-
formal education at the local level for those sixty (60) years old and above
and development of programs which will allow senior citizens to remain

actively engaged in as many social, economic and community activities as
possible.

c. Advancing Health and Well-being. An integrated and innovative elderly-
focused health and social services be made available at the local level
Particularly emphasis shall be made on disease prevention, health promotion


and wellness of mind, body and spirit. Health services shall comprise
preventive, curative and rehabilitative health care services in all government
and private hospitals, local health facilities and other community-based
facilities. The said program shall contemplate the following among others:

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

¢.2. Development and provisions of geriatric training at h family and
community level.

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

d. Enabling and Supportive Environment. Provisions of home nursing for the
elderly, facilities for respite care, programs on counseling, professional
guidance and emotional support and low-cot, community-based activities
integrated into existing community health programs as well as strengthening
of 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 for senior citizens.

SECTION 5. Implementing Agencies. - The National Long-Term Care Program
for Senior Citizens shall be implemented jointly by the Department of Finance,
Department of Health, Department of Interior and Local Government, the various local
government units and the Department 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.

SECTION 6. Appropriation. - 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.

SECTION 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90) days
from the effectivity of this Act, the Department of Social Welfare and Development, after
due consultations with the other implementing agencies, shall promulgate the necessary
tules and regulations necessary for the orderly implementation of this Act.

SECTION 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.


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

SECTION 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,