TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
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SENATE 
S. No. 511
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of t i'
25 JUL 14 AH 38
RECEIVED B'':
Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR GERIATRIC HEALTH AND 
RESEARCH INSTITUTE, DEFINING ITS POWERS AND FUNCTIONS, 
CREATING REGIONAL GERIATRIC SPECIALTY CENTERS IN THE 
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH-RETAINED HOSPITALS, AND APPROPRIATING 
FUNDS THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The Philippines, like many countries worldwide, is experiencing the early but 
steady transition toward an aging population. According to the Philippine Statistics 
Authority's 2020 Census of Population and Housing, Filipinos aged sixty (60) years and 
above already account for 8.5% of the population — approximately 9.2 million people 
as of May 2020.1 Recent demographic studies project that this share will surpass 10% 
by 2030, reaching the international threshold of an "aging society."2 In some regions, 
such as the Ilocos Region, older persons already make up more than 11% of the local 
population (PSA, 2020), underscoring the uneven pace of demographic aging and the 
urgent need for accessible elder care at the community level.
While longer lifespans are a testament to progress in human development, they 
bring with them new responsibilities for the State to ensure that the health and well­
being of older persons are protected. Many elderly Filipinos live with chronic
1ht±ps://regionl0.cpd.gov.ph/popcom-filipino-childrens-population-declined-in-last-20-years-while-
seniors-comprise-8-5-of-phl-population-as-of-2020/
2 https://www.eria.org/uploads/8_Ch_l-Shifting_Demographic.pdf


conditions, limited mobility, and face significant barriers in accessing affordable, 
specialized, and people-centered care.
Older persons are vital bearers of cultural heritage, collective memory, and community 
values that enrich Philippine society. Supporting their health and welfare is not merely 
a medical imperative but a societal duty to ensure that they continue to contribute 
meaningfully to families and communities.
Despite this, the country faces a glaring shortage of trained geriatricians. The 
Philippine College of Geriatric Medicine reported that there were only 147 board- 
certified geriatricians nationwide as of 2020 — with most based in Metro Manila. This 
represents a critical gap in specialist care for a population of over nine million older 
persons, many of whom live outside the capital and lack access to specialized services.
This measure therefore seeks to address these gaps by establishing the 
National Center for Geriatric Health and Research Institute (NCGHRI) as a premier 
teaching, training, and research hospital focused on geriatric care. The bill also 
mandates the creation of Geriatric Specialty Centers in all Department of Health- 
retained hospitals nationwide to strengthen regional capacity for specialized elder care 
closer to communities.
Aligned with the goals of the Universal Health Care Act, the Philippine Health 
Facility Development Plan, and the country's commitment to the UN Decade of Healthy 
Ageing (2021-2030), this measure guarantees that at least seventy percent (70%) of 
hospital beds in the NCGHRI shall be allocated for non-paying indigent patients. This 
ensures that even the most vulnerable older persons can access quality care 
regardless of their financial means.
By building a comprehensive national network for geriatric health services, expanding 
the training of professionals in geriatrics and gerontology, and investing in research 
and community-based programs, the State affirms its duty to protect the right to 
health and well-being of all Filipinos, regardless of age.
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
LOREN LEGARDA


TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHIUPPINES 
First Regular Session
../■'iC'ifir** of t i? ti' v.r."
25 JUL 14 All -.38
RFCEIVhD t'y-
SENATE
Sll
S. No. °
Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR GERIATRIC HEALTH AND 
RESEARCH INSTITUTE, DEFINING ITS POWERS AND FUNCTIONS, 
CREATING REGIONAL GERIATRIC SPECIALTY CENTERS IN THE 
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH-RETAINED HOSPITALS, AND APPROPRIATING 
FUNDS THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Republic of the 
Philippines in Congress assembled:
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Section 1. Short Tide. - This Act shall be known as the "Geriatric Health Act."
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Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to protect and
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promote the right to health of senior citizens all over the country by ensuring that
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holistic health services are available and accessible to them through the establishment
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of a specialized hospital and research institute as well as geriatric specialty centers in
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the Department of Health (DOH) - retained hospitals in every region.
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Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act:
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a. Acute care refers to a specialized program that addresses the needs of
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hospitalized older adults in a multidisciplinary team approach to prevent
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functional and cognitive decline and to improve outcomes;
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b. Apex or end-referra! hospital refers to a hospital offering specialized
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services as determined by DOH, which is contracted as a stand-alone facility
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by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth);
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c. Geriatric health services refer to the medical services or interventions
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provided by a multidisciplinary team to older adult patients;


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d. Geriatric medicine or Geriatrics refers to the sub-specialty of internal and 
family medicine that diagnoses and treats a wide range of conditions and 
diseases that affect people as they age and aims to promote health and 
treat disabilities of older adults;
e. Geriatric palliative care refers to a specialized medical care that focuses on 
providing elderly patients relief from pain and other symptoms of a serious 
illness, regardless of diagnosis or stage of disease, and is provided 
alongside curative and other forms of treatment. It is a field of inter­
specialty collaboration to respond to the socio-demographic changes and 
challenges of older adults with severe and life-limiting conditions;
f. 
Geriatric specialty center refers to a unit or department in a DOH-retained 
hospital that offers specialized care to the aging population, particularly to 
frail older persons, addressing their particular conditions and providing 
specific procedures and management of cases, requiring specialized 
training and/or equipment;
g. Geriatrician refers to a medical doctor who has passed the necessary 
training and specialty licensure examination for the practice of Geriatric 
Medicine;
h. Gerontology refers to the study of the biological, psychological, spiritual, 
social, economic, and demographic aspects of the aging process;
I. Home-based healthcare and reablement program refers to a community- 
based service that primarily caters to the frail older persons who have lost 
or are experiencing problems with mobility;
j. Integrated delivery of geriatric health services refers to hospital and 
community-based medical and psycho-social services provided to senior 
citizens by a multidisciplinary team;
k. Multi-disciplinary team refers to a team composed of health professionals 
headed by a geriatrician and includes surgeons, organ-system specialists, 
nurses, clinical pharmacists, rehabilitation therapists, nutritionists, dentists, 
social workers, caregivers, family members, and patients themselves;
l. 
People-centered service refers to an approach to geriatric care that 
consciously adopts the perspectives of individuals, families, and


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communities, and sees them as participants as well as beneficiaries of
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trusted health systems that respond to their needs and preferences in
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holistic and humane ways;
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m. Senior citizen refers to an elderly Filipino who is at least sixty (60) years
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old;
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n. Sub-acute care refers to care for patients who no longer require
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hospitalization, but still need skilled medical care through rehabilitative
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medicine. Sub-acute rehabilitation is recommended when a patient is not
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functionally able to return home; and,
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0. Transitionai care refers to a form of health care in geriatric medicine
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designed to ensure coordination and continuity of care as patients transfer
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between different locations or different levels of care, and the safe and
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effective management of both chronic and acute illness in older adults.
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Sec. 4. Nationai Center for Geriatric Heaith and Research Institute. - The
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National Center for Geriatric Health (NCGH) is hereby classified as a teaching,
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research, and training hospital that shall specialize in geriatric care and serve as an
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apex hospital or end-referral facility for senior citizens in the country. The NCGH shall
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be renamed as the National Center for Geriatric Health and Research Institute
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(NCGHRI) and shall be under the direct control and supervision of the DOH.
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The bed capacity, service capabilities, healthcare facilities, expansion,
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organizational structure, and human resource requirements of the NCGHRI shall be
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based on the hospital and human resource development plan to be prepared by the
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NCGHRI and approved by the DOH.
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Sec. 5. Powers and Functions. - To carry out the provisions of this Act, the
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NCGHRI shall have the following powers and functions:
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a. Serve as an apex hospital or end-referral facility which shall specialize in
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geriatric health services;
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b. Formulate a hospital development plan which shall be regularly updated to
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reflect the expansion and future development of the NCGHRI;
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c. Provide and maintain affordable, quality, and timely people-centered hospital
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care through an efficient health service delivery system for senior citizens;


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d. Provide higher and up-to-date geriatric training for professionals,
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postgraduates, academics, and allied healthcare providers, especially from the
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geriatric specialty centers in the regions and LCDs, and other government
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hospitals;
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e. Develop and implement cutting-edge research studies on diseases related to
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old age to translate research outcomes into policy and specialized health care
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solutions, and publish research studies that shall serve as a critical information
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resource for the medical and research community, in coordination with the
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Philippine Council on Health Research and Development (PCHRD) and the
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Institute on Aging of the National Institutes of Health (lA-NIH);
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f. Conduct and participate in international and local gerontological research
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activities;
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g. Provide consultancy service and technical assistance in the setting of standards
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for geriatric wards in every tertiary level hospital, nursing home, and residential
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center catering to the health and functioning needs of senior citizens, in
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coordination with the PCHRD and the 
lA-NIH;
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h. Develop and maintain a core information hub on geriatrics and gerontological
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studies in coordination with the lA-NIH and concerned offices in the DOH and
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its attached agencies, such as the Disease Prevention and Control Bureau and
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the Knowledge Management and Information Technology Service;
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i. Extend medical services to senior citizens pursuant to the goals, objectives, and
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rules of the National Health Insurance Program and in accordance with Republic
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Act No. 11223, otherwise known as the "Universal Health Care Act";
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j. Provide an integrated and effective approach in the delivery of geriatric health
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services in collaboration with other government agencies, local government
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units (LGUs), and other stakeholders;
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k. Conduct specialty training and technical assistance in collaboration with
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concerned DOH offices and other relevant professional organizations;
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I. Finance, sponsor, hold, or participate in congresses, conventions, conferences,
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seminars, workshops, and training programs on geriatric health services or
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related fields in the Philippines and abroad; and
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m. Establish a standardized referral system for psychosocial services.


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Sec. 6. Scope of Services. - The NCGHRI shall provide the following services:
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a. Hospital-based services to ensure the availability of medical facilities and
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equipment for senior citizens needing acute and sub-acute care, geriatric
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palliative care, transitional and outpatient care services, and such other
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necessary services;
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b. Community-based services utilizing multidisciplinary team approaches such
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as home-based healthcare and reablement programs, research and external
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resource outsourcing for community-based integrated 
geriatric health
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services, and training necessary for the psycho-social functioning of senior
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citizens and their families, in coordination with LGUs;
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c. Technical assistance and capacity building in the establishment and
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maintenance of nursing homes and residential care facilities and senior
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citizens' wards in government hospitals pursuant to Republic Act No. 9994,
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otherwise known as the "Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010";
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d. Technical assistance and capacity building in the establishment of geriatric
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specialty centers and services to strengthen the network of geriatric care
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service providers across the country and ensure the delivery of quality
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health services for senior citizens;
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e. Education programs and scholarships to pursue excellence and the highest
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level of quality in the practice of the specialized field of geriatrics and other
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related fields, including postgraduate training and short-term courses for
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medical doctors and other allied medical health professions, in coordination
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with the lA-NIH; and
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f. Education programs in geriatrics and gerontology subjects in undergraduate
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health and allied professions, including training of students, as well as
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postgraduate medical education of physicians, nurses, allied professionals,
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pharmacists, dentists, and social workers.
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The Geriatric Specialty Fellowship Training Program of the NCGHRI shall seek
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and maintain full accreditation status in the Philippine College of Geriatric Medicine.
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The NCGHRI shall ensure the accessibility of all its programs and services and
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take into consideration the special needs of senior citizens with disabilities.


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Sec. 7. Organizational Structure and Staffing Pattern. - The Secretary of the
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DOH shall determine the organizational structure and staffing pattern of the NCGHRI
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in accordance with the revised compensation and position classification system subject
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to the evaluation and approval of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM)
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and in compliance with the civil service laws, rules and regulations.
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Sec. 8. Establishment of Geriatric Specialty Centers. - Geriatric specialty centers
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are hereby established in DOH regional hospitals, which shall serve as apex or end-
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referral hospitals of the health care provider networks and training and research
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facilities on geriatric specialty care services. Geriatric health services shall be available
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in all government primary health facilities.
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The level of geriatric services and corresponding facilities in specialty centers
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and their respective health human resource requirements shall be determined by the
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DOH, in coordination with NCGHRI and other stakeholders: Provided, That the
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standards to be adopted thereon shall be consistent with the Philippine Health Facility
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Development Plan and Section 6 of this Act.
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Sec. 9. Categorization of Patients. - The DOH shall ensure that the NCGHRI
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shall adopt and enforce a categorization of paying and non-paying patients. The
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allocation of beds for non-paying patients shall be not less than seventy percent (70%)
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of the total number of hospital beds.
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Sec. 10. Income Retention. - All income generated from the operations of the
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NCGHRI shall be deposited in an authorized government depository bank and shall be
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used to augment the funds allocated for its maintenance, other operating expenses,
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and capital outlay requirements, subject to the guidelines set by the DOH and the
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DBM.
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Sec. 11. Privilege. - The NCGHRI may request and receive assistance from the
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different agencies, bureaus, offices, or instrumentalities of the government, including
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the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office and Philippine Amusement and Gaming
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Corporation, in pursuit of its purposes and objectives.
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Sec. 12. Tax Exemptions. - All donations, endowments, contributions, grants,
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and bequests used actually, directly, and exclusively for and in accordance with the
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purposes and functions of the NCGHRI shall be exempt from donor's tax, and the
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same shall be considered as allowable deductions from gross income for purposes of


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computing the taxable income of the donor, in accordance with the provisions of the
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National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended.
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The NCGHRI shall be exempt from income tax and customs duty levied by the
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government and its political subdivisions, agencies, and instrumentalities subject to
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the provisions of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended and
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Republic Act No. 10863, otherwise known as the "Customs Modernization and Tariff
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Act."
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The NCGHRI shall avail of the tax expenditure subsidy administered by the
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Fiscal Incentives Review Board (FIRB), subject to the provisions of Title XIII (Tax
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Incentives) of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended. Executive
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Order No. 93, and the General Appropriations Act.
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Sec. 13. Coordination with and Assistance from Other Government Agencies. -
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The NCGHRI shall collaborate with the National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC)
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in the development of its programs and services. It may likewise call upon any
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department, bureau, office, agency, or instrumentality of the government for
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assistance in the pursuit of the purposes and objectives of this Act.
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Sec. 14. Appropriations. -The amount necessary for the implementation of this
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Act shall be charged against the current year's appropriation of the DOH. Thereafter,
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the funding of which shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.
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Sec. 15. Annuai Report. - The NCGHRI shall submit an annual report to the
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President of the Philippines, the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, the
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House of Representatives Committee on Health, and the NCSC, on its activities,
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accomplishments, and recommendations to further improve the delivery of geriatric
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health services.
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Sec. 16. Transitory Provisions. - In accomplishing organizational changes and
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improvements that have to be implemented, the following transitory provisions shall
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be complied with:
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a. The National Center for Geriatric Health (NCGH), currently under the Jose
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R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center (JRRMMC), shall be absorbed by NCGHRI,
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including its existing personnel, regardless of status, and all buildings and
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equipment, fixtures and furnishings, other assets and liabilities, and current
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appropriations;


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b. The independence of the NCGHRI from the JRRMMC shall be fully realized
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within two (2) years. The DOH shall ensure that no disruption of service will
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occur during this transitory period;
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c. The existing officials and employees of NCGH shall continue to assume the
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duties of their positions until new appointments are issued. They shall be
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placed in the new staffing pattern of the NCGHRI in accordance with R.A.
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No. 6656, entitled "An Act to Protect the Security of Tenure of Civil Service
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Officers and Employees in the Implementation of Government
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Reorganization," and the rules and regulations governing reorganization.
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Officials and employees, including casual and temporary employees, who
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shall not be absorbed in the new staffing pattern due to redundancy shall
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avail of the applicable retirement benefits and separation incentives as
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provided under existing laws: Provided, That officials and employees
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holding permanent appointments shall also be given the option to be
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transferred to other units or offices within the DOH without reduction in
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rank, status, pay, and benefits;
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d. Research grants acquired by the NCGHRI during the transition shall be
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utilized solely for their intended purposes and of the affected units or
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offices; and
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e. Existing contracts and agreements entered into with third parties prior to
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the enactment of this Act shall remain valid.
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Sec. 17. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Secretary of Health shall,
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in consultation with the Secretary of Budget and Management, Secretary of Social
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Welfare and Development, and the Chairperson of the NCSC, promulgate rules and
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regulations for the effective implementation of this Act within ninety (90) days after
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its effectivity.
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Sec. 18. Separability Clause. - If any part or provision of this Act is held invalid
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or unconstitutional, the remaining parts or provisions not affected shall remain in full
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force and effect.
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Sec. 19. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules, and regulations,
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and other issuances or parts thereof, which are contrary to or inconsistent with this
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Act are hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.
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Sec. 20. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
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publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,