NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE PHILIPPINES 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
S.B.No. 69
RE
INDEX
BILLS
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR ALAN PETER "COMPANERO" S. CAYETANO
AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE CREATION OF CENTERS FOR THE ELDERLY IN EVERY 
CITY AND MUNICIPALITY, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
"Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord
your God is giving you."
Exodus 20:12
Our culture taught us to love and respect the elderly. The responsibility to take 
care of the aging citizens of our society is, therefore, ingrained into the very being of 
every Filipino. For example, pagmamano, saying po and opo are manifestations of how 
our culture treats and respects the elderly. Filipinos are proud of our long ingrained 
value of caring for one another, especially for our lolos and Mas. This is further made 
evident by imposing upon the State the responsibility to prioritize the needs of the 
elderly, underprivileged, sick, disabled, women, and children in the provision of social 
services.
According to the World Health Organization, the pace of population ageing is 
much faster than in the past. It is estimated that between 2015 to 2050, the 
proportion of the world's population over sixty [60) years will nearly double from 
twelve percent [12%) to twenty-two percent [22%).! The problems of population 
ageing go hand in hand with economic growth since it affects labor force participation 
in the market.2
In 2015, the elderly population of the Philippines only comprised 7.5% or 
7,548,769 of the total estimated population .3 This increased in 2020, by more than 
4.7 million [12,336,355 Filipinos). 11.31% of the then estimated population consisted
1 World Health Organization (4 October 2021). https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/ageing- 
and-health
2 International Labor Organization (1 December 2009). https://www.ilo.org/global/WCM_041965/lang- 
en/index.htm
3 Philippine Statistics Authority (2015).
https://psa.gov.ph/system/files/2015%20Fact%20Sheets%20on%20Senior%20Citizen_pop.pdf?width=950
%26height=700%26iframe=true


of Filipinos aged 60 or over.4 An increase in the ageing population means an increase 
in the demand for care of this sector5 - including health care services. Therefore, there 
is a pressing need to take care of our elderly population.
On 01 April 2019, Taguig has successfully launched a pilot Center for the 
Elderly that caters to the health and wellbeing of our senior citizens who have low- 
risk, less serious or uncomplicated cases. The hub is a disabled-friendly five-story 
building which provides accessible and hassle free delivery of health services, 
recreation, and other leisure facilities available to senior citizens. It features a medical 
clinic, a therapy pool, conference rooms, offices, a pantry, restrooms, a fully-equipped 
gym, a yoga room, a ballroom, two saunas, multipurpose function areas, a movie 
theatre, a rooftop garden, activity area with board games and reading materials, a spa 
and wellness area with massage chairs, outdoor exercise equipment, and an elevator.
On 21 November 2019, Taguigeno senior citizens were fortunate to be joined 
by then President Rodrigo Roa Duterte as he visited the first wellness hub for seniors 
in the country, right in the City of Taguig.
“I wish that your pursuit to uplift the lives of our senior citizens will be
emulated by other city and municipal governments in the country," said
President Duterte.6
The words of appreciation and encouragement by President Duterte, our Tatay 
Digong, are one of the many reasons why I am spearheading this initiative. For every 
lolo and lola, I want to show that they are appreciated, respected, and loved, kahit 
maputi na ang buhok nila.
It is the proposal of this Bill to establish and create, in every city or 
municipality, a Center for the Elderly that is especially dedicated to the overall well­
being of our beloved lolos and Mas. The aim therefore, is to provide accessible 
eldercare services in every locality in order to address the overall wellbeing of an 
ageing population. It is also believed that with the introduction of the Taguig City 
Center for Elderly model, the national government's agenda to promote inclusivity, 
fairness, and good governance will further be advanced.
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this Bill is earnestly sought.
ALAN PETER "COMPANERO" S. CAYETANO
4 Inquirer [5 October 2021]. https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1497408/ph-senior-citizens-in-a-time-of- 
pandemic
5 Ibid.
6https://pcoo.gov.ph/news_releases/president-duterte-hopes-other-lgus-will-emulate-taguig-citys-center-
for-the-elderly/


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE PHILIPPINES 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
S. B. No. £3
iM
dateJUL
BILLS
INDEX
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR ALAN PETER "COMPANERO” S. CAYETANO
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AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE CREATION OF CENTERS FOR THE ELDERLY IN EVERY 
CITY AND MUNICIPALITY, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES
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 a Center for the Elderly 
in All Cities and Municipalities Act."
SECTION 2. Statement of Policy. - The State has the responsibility to take care 
of its elderly. In the same vein, it is the obligation of the State to prioritize the elderly 
in the adoption of an integrated and comprehensive approach to health and social 
development which endeavors to make essential goods, health and other social 
services available to all the people at affordable cost
SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. -
A. "Eldercare" shall mean the provision of primary health services that especially 
caters to the needs of senior citizens.
B. "Elderly" or "senior citizen" shall mean a resident citizen at least sixty [60} 
years of age, as defined under Republic Act [R.A.} No. 9994 or the Expanded 
Senior Citizens Act of 2010.
C. "Less severe illness" shall mean a health problem, issue, or condition that does 
not carry a high risk of mortality and does not negatively impact the life and 
daily function of an individual.
D. "Office for Senior Citizen Affairs" or "OSCA" shall mean the office established 
by R.A. No. 7432 or the Senior Citizens Act, as amended by R.A. No. 9994.
E. "Primary health services" or "primary health care" shall mean the initial 
contact of an individual with an accessible and coordinated health system to 
manage health problems or issues that are less severe or uncomplicated, 
including, but not limited to the following:
a} Diagnosis and treatment of health problems; 
b} Prevention of health problems;
c] Early intervention; and
d) Managing ongoing and long-term conditions.


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SECTION 4. Special Committee on Centers for the Elderly. - There is hereby 
created a Special Committee on Centers for the Elderly to be composed of the 
following:
1. Secretary of the Department of Health as Chairperson;
2. Secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development as Vice 
Chairperson;
3. Secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways as Member;
4. Secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government as 
Member;
5. National Commission of Senior Citizens Chairperson as Member; and,
6. One representative of the private sector who is a senior citizen to be 
appointed by the President as Member.
The Committee shall ensure that relevant national government agencies shall 
establish at least one (1} Center for the Elderly in every city and municipality 
especially dedicated to provide eldercare, recreational activities, social services, and 
assistance to senior citizens. The establishment shall be a wellness hub with health 
services, with the following minimum standards:
a. A sufficient number of qualified staff shall be on duty at all times to render 
appropriate services in the Center;
b. Facilities, rooms, and spaces which are accessible, especially to the elderly 
and Persons with Disability, and with appropriate signage;
c. Basic health and recreational facilities which are appropriate for the 
elderly, including adequate space for indoor activities, and, as far as 
practicable, open spaces and garden area for outdoor activities;
d. Appropriate health facilities for elderly needing medical attention and for 
use for medical consultation;
e. The Center shall have basic utility, such as water and electricity; and,
f. Data and information management system that shall contain, store, and 
secure the health and other relevant data of the elderly, in accordance with 
the provisions of the Data Privacy Act.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development, consistent with the 
Republic Act (R.A.} No. 9994 or the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010, and the 
Department of Health, consistent with the national health program for senior citizens, 
shall issue guidelines for the proper implementation of this Act, and shall provide 
assistance to LGUs in setting up the Centers for the Elderly.
Medical services provided within the Centers for the Elderly and their 
providers shall be accredited by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation 
(PhilHealth).
SECTION 5. Role of the OSCA. - The OSCA established in every city or 
municipality shall act as liaison and referral office. It will also be the main body to 
handle referrals in case there is a necessity for medical attention to a senior citizen.
It shall likewise make available a list of health and social services offered in 
respective Centers for the Elderly.


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SECTION 6. Staffing. - All Centers for the Elderly established under this Act 
shall have three staff groups on a daily, rotational basis, comprising at least one 
doctor, one nurse, and two trained barangay health workers.
The LGU concerned shall hire all Center for the Elderly staff as job order, casual, 
contractual, or regular employees. Barangay health workers currently serving the city 
or municipality shall be given preference in the hiring under this Act.
SECTION 7. Services. - All Centers for the Elderly established under this Act 
shall be equipped with at least the most basic facilities that can cater to less severe, 
uncomplicated, and/or out-patient medical services, reliable financial assistance, 
social services, and worthwhile recreational activities.
SECTION 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). - Within 60 days 
upon the approval of this Act, the Department of Health, in coordination with the 
Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Public Works and 
Highways (DPWH), and LGUs, shall prepare and issue such rules and regulations 
necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act.
Thereafter, the DPWH shall ensure the commencement of the creation of 
Centers for the Elderly within the fiscal year after appropriating budget therefore.
SECTION 9. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to carry out the 
provisions of this Act is hereby authorized to be appropriated from the General 
Appropriations Act of the year following its enactment, and every year thereafter.
SECTION 10. Separability Clause. - If any part or provision of this Act is 
declared invalid or unconstitutional, the other parts hereof not affected thereby shall 
remain valid.
SECTION 11. Repealing Clause. - All laws, acts, presidential decrees, 
executive orders, administrative orders, rules and regulations inconsistent with or 
contrary to the provisions of this Act are deemed amended, modified or repealed 
accordingly.
SECTION 12. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen [15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,