FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OFFICE FS

OF THE PHILIPPINES
Third Regular Session

10 FEB -4

Sno 3582

Introduced by Senator Manuel “Lito” M. Lapid

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Consistent with the constitutional provision that “The State shall protect
and promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness
among them’ (Art. II Sec.15) and that the state shall adopt an integrated and
comprehensive approach to health and other social services available to all the
people at affordable cost. There shall be priority for the underprivileged, sick,
elderly, women and children.” (See 14,Art XIll), this bill aims to create a hospital
having the nature of corporate body, which render the medical institution more
viable and more responsive to the varied demands of patients, whose benefits
and facilities are open not only to Manilans but to all Filipinos throughout the
land

The hospital that this bill aims to establish which shall be known as the
National Geriatric Health Center which will focus on the medical needs of senior
citizens and therefore will be the first of its kind in the Philippines, because while
we have a national children’s hospital, we don’t have yet a National Geriatric
Health Center. With this kind of hospital, our senior citizens who are now in the
twilight of their years will have the comfort and assurance that the government is
truly concerned for the well-being.

The bill likewise envisions the active involvement of the heads of different
agencies of the government including local government executives, as well as
private and other non-government offices and organizations. The early passage
of this bill will communicate a sense of goodwill and gratitude to our senior
citizens, thus its immediate passage is earnestly requested.

.

INUEL “LITO” M. LAPID

Senator



FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC
OF THE PHILIPPINES
Third Regular Session

10 FEB 4 3.

“

RERE VED ony

SENATE. la

(
S.No. 3592

Introduced by Senator Manuel “Lito” M. Lapid

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE NATIONAL GERIATRIC HEALTH CENTRE OF THE
PHILIPPINES.

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 “Dra. Eva
Macaraeg-Macapagal National Center for Geriatric Health Act”.

SECTION 2. Policy Declaration - It is the policy of the State, consistent
with the provisions of the Constitution that the State shall protect and promote
the right to health of the people and to instill health consciousness among them”
(Sec.15, Art. Il) and “the state shall adopt an’ integrated and comprehensive
approach to health and other social services available to all the people at
affordable cost. The State shall give priority to the underprivileged, sick, elderly,
women and children” (Sec Il. Art. Xill)

SECTION 3. Definition of terms. - For purpose of this Act, these term are
defined as follows.

(a) “Senior Citizens” of “Elderly” — any Filipino citizen who is at least sixty
(60) years old and is a resident of the Philippines.

(b) “Geriatric Health Service" — medical services/intervention provided by a
Geriatrician;

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(c) “Geriatrics” - the branch of medical science devoted to the study of the
biological and physical changes and the diseases of old age;

(d) “Integrated Delivery of Geriatric Health Services” - hospital and
community-based medical and psycho-social service provided to
senior citizens by a multi-disciplinary team.

SECTION 4. Creation of the National Geriatric Health Centre — There is
hereby created a corporate body, for the primary benefit of senior citizens or the
elderly to be known as the Dra. Eva Macaraeg-Macapagal National Center for
Geriatric Health, herein referred to in this Act as NCGH, which is hereby
categorized as a government-owned or controlled corporation.

SECTION 5. Board of Trustees. - The NCGH shall be administered by a
Board of Trustees composed of fifteen (15) members as follows:

a.) Secretary of the Department of Health — as Chairperson of the Board;

b.) Secretary of the Department of Social Welfare

¢.) General Manager of the Philippine Retirement Agency

d.) President of the League of the Governors of the Philippines;

e.) President of the Federation of Senior Citizens Association of the
Philippines; :

f.) 3 representative each from NGO's, Philippine Medical Association,
and the Academe to be appointed by the President of the Philippines
upon the recommendation of the Congressman of the 6" District of
Manila; and

g.) Congressman of the 6" District of manila

SECTION 6. Purposes and Objectives. - The purpose and the objective
of the NCGH is to provide the following:

(a.)Hospital-based services — there shall be medical facilities and
equipments necessary to provide chronic, long term, and palliative
services with its wards to be divided into the following: Dementia; Long
Term Care; Palliative Care; Respite Care; and other units as may be
deemed necessary; :


(b.) Community-based services — to develop and implement community-
based program in partnership with local government units; conduct
research and external resource outscoring to implement community-
based integrated geriatric health services; and conduct training
necessary for the social functioning of the senior citizens and their
families, utilizing the multi-disciplinary team approaches;

(c.) Education - to provide field of specialization in Geriatrics and
Gerontology, conduct post graduate training and short term courses
for medical doctors and medical allied professionals subject to the
Joint Guidelines to be issued by the Department of Health, the
Commission on Higher Education, and the Technological Employment
and Skills Education Development Authority;

(d.) Program Development, Research, Medical/Technical Assistance and
Quality assurance — to develop cutting edge research and program to
combat diseases of old age in promoting active and healthy care,
provide necessary consultancy advise, technical assistance and
standards setting/registration to Geriatric ward in every Tertiary
Hospital, Nursing Homes, Retirement Homes, and Residential Center
catering to the health and social functioning needs of senior citizens,
subject to the Joint Guidelines mentioned in the immediately-
preceding paragraph; and

(e.)To establish Geriatric Wards manned by medical personnel with
expertise and/or training in Geriatric in every government and private
tertiary hospital subject to the Guidelines that shal) be issued by the
Department of health.

SECTION 7. Powers. - For the attainment and furtherance and the above-
cited purposes and objectives, the NCGH, as a body corporate acting through its
Board of Trustees, shall have all the powers pertaining to a juridical person, and
is therefore authorized, among others to:

@. acquire, hold and own in any manner, property of whatever nature or
description, and to dispose of such property under any mode of
encumbrance or conveyance; ‘


b. enter into, make, perform and carry out contacts of every kind and for
any purpose with any person, firm, association or corporation, whether
public or private, domestic or foreign;

©. mortgage, lease, sell, transfer, convey or otherwise dispose of its
properties;

d. solicit and receive donations, endowments, and funds in the form of
contributions, whether cash or in kind, from both the public and private
sectors and from domestic and foreign sources;

. open such accounts in banks and other financial institutions, and to
disburse such funds or invest the same as the Board of Trustees may
direct or authorize to accomplish or advance the purpose or interest of
the NCGH;

f._ invite foreign or local specialist and similar experts in various medical
fields to train the personnel, trainees and residents of the NCGH;

g. send the personnel of the NCGH to research and medical institutes for
advance training or observation, and to attend international or regional
conventions, conferences or seminars as the Board of Trustees may
deem necessary to accomplish the purposes and the objectives of the
NCGH;

h. enter into such agreements and arrangements with other medical or
similar institutions, domestic or foreign, as may be deemed desirable
by the Board of Trustees toward promoting the purposes and
objectives of the NCGH; a

i. adopt a set of by-laws and regulations, policies, guidelines and
procedures consistent with law and the provisions of this act to govern
the administration and operation of thé NCGH; and

j. do all such other acts and things as are or may be necessary for or
incidental to the accomplishment of the purposes and objectives of the
NCGH.

SECTION 8. Program for Indigents — The Board of Trustees shall ensure
that the NCGH shall adopt and enforce a program for indigents. The
number of beds allocated for indigent patients shall not be less than
twenty percent (20%) of the total number’ of hospital beds.

SECTION 9. Security of Tenure of Civil Services Officers and Employees
of the NCGH. — The provisions of Republic Act No. 6656, entitled “An Act
to Protect the Security of Tenure of Civil Service Officers and Employees


in the Implementation of Government Reorganization’, existing civil
service laws, rules and regulations and other applicable laws shall apply to
all officers and employees of the NCGH, except to the members of its
Board of Trustees.

SECTION 10. Tax Exemption and other Privileges. - Being a non-profit,
non-stock corporation organized primarily to provide delivery of integrated
geriatric health services to promote healthy aging in the Philippines and
help combat the increasing incidence of degenerative diseases, frailty and
disability, and provide services for senior citizens with the threatening
diseases in the Philippines —

(a) all donations, contributions, endowments and equipments and
supplies imported by the NCGH for its actual use and benefit shall
be exempt from tax of any nature'or kind;

(b) the NCGH shall be exempt from the payment of taxes, charges

and fees being imposed by the government, its political

subdivisions or instrumentalities, including local government units
for equipments purchased for its use; and

the NCGH ma request and receive assistance from different

Agencies, Bureaus, Offices, or Instrumentalities of the

government, including the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office

and the Philippine Amusement: and Gaming Corporation | the

(c

pursuit of its purposes and objectives.

SECTION 11. Government Subsidy and Contributions. - The amount of
Three Hundred Million Pesos (Php300,000,000.00) is hereby appropriated as
contribution of the National Government for its initial operations and maintenance
of the NCGH for the year 2010. Thereafter, the amount necessary for the
continued operation and maintenance of the NCGH shail be duly provided for,
appropriated and released from the National-Budget. Such funds shall be
administered by the Board of Trustees.

SECTION 12. Auditing. ~ The books of account of the NCGH shall be
‘subject to periodic audit by and independent auditing firm to be commissioned by
its Board of Trustees; Provided that, such audit shall be subject to review by the
Commission on Audit.


SECTION 13. Annual Report. - The NCGH shall render to the President
of the Philippines, the Committees on Health and Social Services in both Houses
of Congress, Secretary of the Department of Health, and the Secretary of the
Department of Social Welfare and Development’ an annual report on its activities,
accomplishments and recommendations.

SECTION 14. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Secretary
of Health shall, within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act, promulgate
the Implementing Rules and Regulations for the effective and efficient
implementation of the provisions of this Act in consultation with the following
agencies and offices:

(a) Department of Social Welfare and Development;

(b) Department of Finance;

(c) Commission on Higher Education;

(d) Philippine Retirement Agency;

(e) Department of interior and Local Government;

(f) Technical Education and Skills Development Authority; and

(g) A Medical Association, Senior Citizens organization, and other
NGO,

SECTION 15. Effect of Dissolution. — In the event the NCGH is dissolved
for any reason, its property remaining at the time of such dissolution shail be
placed under the 6" Congressional District of the City of Manila for disposition in
accordance with law.

SECTION 16. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, ordinances, rules
and regulations, executives or administrative orders, and other presidential
issuances inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified
accordingly. .

SECTION 17. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect immediately
upon its approval.

Approved,