Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session
HousEBILLNo.1C193
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DATE
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Introduced by HON. LORNA C. SILVERIO
AN ACT
pRovll>ING  A  NURslNG  Honffl  FOR  THE  ABANDONED  AND  NHGLECTED
SENIOR CITIZENS, ESTABLISHING FOR THS PURPOSE A NURSING HORE-
LIKE   ENVIRONMEI`IT   IN  EVERY  PROVINCE   IN  THE  PEELIPPINES,  AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The  Constitution  provides  integral  primacy  to  the  welfare  of our  senior  citizens.  Under
Article XIII, Section  11, their (senior citizens) protection is assured. It states that "[t]he 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."
To this addition, Article XV, Section 4 mandates that "[t]he family has the duty to care for its
elderly members, but the State may also do so through just programs of social security."
Living  in  multigenerational  households  and  communities  shape  perceptions  of aging  as  a
responsibility, due to the establishment of family roles,  adult engagement in the workforce,
and family social tiesT. However,  some of our senior citizens were neglected by their family
members mainly attributed to financial constraints. This unfortunate situation has urged this
representation to file this measure that will seek to establish a nursing home-like environment
in every province that will take good care of them.
Our respect and care for the elderly has made us Filipinos be respected by many countries,
especially  from  western  nations.  Time  after  time,  we  choose  to  take  care  of our  elders
themselves in their homes. Due to limitations, some families are not able to do it. And this is
where the government can step in to preserve the strong familial ties of Filipino families.
It is for this reason that the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
LORNA C. SILVERIO
1  Valdez,  P.,  Angeles,  I.  L.,  Pareja{orpuz,  E.,  &  Hernandez,  C.  (2013).  Perceptions towards agivg among selected  Filipino
adults. International Journal of Research Studies in Psychology; 2, 89-96. doi:10.5861/ijrsp.2013.458
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REPUBLIC 0F THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session
HouseBillNo.Jrm3
Introduced by HON. LORNA C. SILVERIO
AN ACT
PROVIDING  A  NURSING  H0hffl  FOR  THE  ABANDONEI)  AND  NEGLECTED
SHNI0R CITIZENS, ESTABLISHING FOR THIS PURPOSE A NURSING HOME-
LIKE   ENVIRONMEI`IT   IN  EVERY  PROVINCE   IN  TILE   PEHLIPPINES,  AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
Be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  House  Of Representatives  Of the  Philippines  in  Congress
assembled:
Section 1. Short Title. This Act shall be known as the "Regional Nursing Home for Neglected
and Abandoned Senior Citizens Act."
See. 2. Policy Statement. It shall be the policy of the State to ensure that the dignity of every
person  is  valued  by  promoting  full  respect  to  human  rights.  Towards  this  end,  the  elderly
citizens must  be  accorded  of the  necessary  social  security  by  extending them  the  assistance
that will advance their welfare.
See. 3. Definition of Terms. As used in this Act, the following terms shall mean:
al.   Abandoned  and  Neglected  Senior  Citizen  rofers  to  al  senior  citinen who  iran  been
deserted, permanently or temporarily, by his relatives or persons who have general or
legal responsibility over the senior citizen.  and/or from whom all basic care has been
withdrawn, whether willfully or not.
b.   Home/eSs  Se#f.or  Cztz.ze7?  refers  to  a  senior who  lacks  a  fixed.  regular  residence,  or
whose  current  residence  is  unfit  for  human  habitation,  or  lacks  resources  to  obtain
proper housing.
c.    IVz{7is;.ng Ho"e refers to a home for the aged, established and maintained under this Act
by each province which provides living accommodations,  food and clothing,  medical
and health care, and recreational and social  interaction activities for abandoned senior
citizens or homeless senior citizens; and,
d.   Sc77;.or C;./!.ze# refers to any resident citizen of the Philippines at least sixty (60) years
of age.
See.  4.  Establishment of Nursing Homes.  There  shall  be  established  in  every  province,  a
nursing home to serve neglected and abandoned  senior citizens and homeless senior citizens,
to  be  built  by  the  local  government  units  (LGU)  concerned  and  shall  be  operated  and
maintained by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in coordination
with the LGUs concerned.
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Sec.  5  Functions  of Nursing  Homes.  The  nursing  homes  shall  provide  homeless  senior
citizens  or  abandoned  senior  citizens  within  its  territorial  jurisdiction  an  institutionalized
residential care programs and services such as but not limited to:
a.    Comfortable living quarters.
b.   Adequate food and clothing.
c.    Medical consultation or treatment.
d.    Health care.
e.    Occupational opportunities.
f.    Recreational and social interaction activities.
9.    Counseling.
h.   Outreach to existing family for reintegration.
i.    Literacy education.
j.    Productivity development; and,
k.    Religious, cultural, and vocational activities.
See.  6.  Implementing  Rules  and  Regulations.  -  The  DSWD,  in  coordination  with  the
Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Health, and other civil society
organizations advancing the welfare of senior citizens to be  identified by the  DSWD,  shall
hereby promulgate the rules and regulations to cany out the provisions this Act not later than
ninety (90) days after the effectivity of this Act.
See. 7. Appropriations. -The amount necessary to cany out the provisions of this Act shall
be  included  in the General Appropriations Act of the year following  its enactment into  law
and every year thereafter.
See.   8.   Separability   clause.   -   If  any   provision   of  this   Act   is   declared   invalid   or
unconstitutional, the provisions not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect.
See.  9.  Repealing  clause.  -  All  laws,  presidential  decrees,  executive  orders,  presidential
proclamations, rules and regulations or parts thereof contrary to or inconsistent with this Act
are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
See 10. Effectivity.   -This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the
Official Gazette or at least two (2) national papers of general circulation.
Approved,
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