NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
(©fftfp of ti)e aet.ifp
‘22 AUG 17 A 8 :46
SENATE
RliCEIVED BV:
s. No. 1201
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A NURSING HOME FOR QUALIFIED HOMELESS AND 
ABANDONED SENIOR CITIZENS IN EVERY CITY OR MUNICIPALITY IN THE 
PHILIPPINES, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
It is declared the policy of the State to extend assistance to its elderly citizens 
through programs of social security and to promote the right to health and safety of 
senior citizens, as enshrined under Section 11, Article XIII of the 1987 Constitution.
Filipinos are known for their genuine respect and care for the elderly. Unlike 
western societies, VvC do not merely consider taking care of them as our obligation 
but rather, as a sign of gratitude and love. However, there has been an increasing 
number of cases of abandonment and neglect of the elderly in the country. This can 
be attributed to the economic reality of spending for the care and maintenance of the 
elderly which may become burdensome for households which do not earn enough, 
coupled with our ageing population, in which the population of the elderly is expected 
to comprise 16.5% of the total population by 20501.
Thus, this bill seeks to establish a nursing home to serve qualified abandoned 
senior citizens and homeless senior citizens to be built in every municipality and city. 
The same shall provide institutionalized residential care programs and services, such 
as but not limited to, comfortable living quarters, adequate food and clothing, medical
1 https://ageingasia.org/ageing-population-philippines/


consultation or treatment, among others for the qualified beneficiaries who are unable 
to take care of themselves.
This bill likewise gives senior citizens the opportunity to reconcile with their 
families and return to their care. Beneficiaries who have recovered from their illness 
and become well-enough to care for themselves may also opt to leave the home 
voluntarily.
BHang isang Hpunan, poHsiya po natin na alagaan ang mga taong hindi kayang 
alagaan ang kanilang sariH. Sa ganito, napananatiH po natin ang kultura ng 
pagtutulungan at pag-iibigan sa ating komunidad at mapananatHi natin ang iakas ng 
ugnayan ng bawat isa sa atin.
In view of this, early passage of this bill is sought.
Senator


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
s. No. 1201
of II)? Bui-mxy
■22 AUG 17 A 8 '46
RITEIVEO
0
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid
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AN ACT
2 
ESTABLISHING A NURSING HOME FOR QUALIFIED HOMELESS AND
3 
ABANDONED SENIOR CITIZENS IN EVERY CITY OR MUNICIPALITY IN THE
4 
PHILIPPINES, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER
5 
PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
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SECTION 1. Short Title. -This Act shall be known as the "Homes for Abandoned
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Seniors Act."
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SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to
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value the dignity of every human person, guarantee full respect for human rights,
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extend assistance to its elderiy citizens through programs of social security, and
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promote the right to health and safety of senior citizens. Towards this end, the State
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shali extend assistance to abandoned and homeless senior citizens through a sociai
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care and security program.
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SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act:
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(a) Abandoned Senior Citizen refers to a senior citizen who has been deserted,
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permanently or temporarily, by his relatives or persons who have generai or
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legal responsibility over the senior citizen, and/or from whom all basic care has
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been withdrawn, whether willfully or not;


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(b) Homeless Senior Citizen refers to a senior who lacks a fixed, regular residence,
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or whose current residence is unfit for human habitation, or lacks resources to
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obtain proper housing;
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(c) Nursing Home refers to a home for the aged, established and maintained under
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this Act by a city or municipality which provides living accommodations, 
food
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and clothing, medical and health care, and recreational and social interaction
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activities for abandoned senior citizens or homeless senior citizens;
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(d) Senior Citizen refers to any resident citizen of the Philippines at least sixty
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(60) years of age; and
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SEC. 4. Establishment of Nursing Homes. -There shall be established in every
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municipality and city, a nursing home to serve qualified abandoned and homeless
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senior citizens (beneficiaries), to be built by the local government units (LGUs)
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concerned and shall be operated and maintained by the Department of Social Welfare
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and Development (DSWD) in coordination with the LGUs concerned.
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To qualify for availment, the beneficiary must have neither means nor ability to
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care for him/herself.
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SEC. 5. Functions of Nursing Homes. -The nursing homes shall provide the 
beneficiaries within its territorial jurisdiction 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) Recreational and social interaction activities;
(f) Counseling;


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(g) Case conference;
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(h) Family dialogue;
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(i) Outreach to existing family for reintegration;
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(j) Literacy education;
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(k) Productivity development; 
and
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(I) Religious, cultural and vocational activities.
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SEC. 5. Voluntary Exit from the Home. - Any beneficiary may opt to leave the
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nursing home, provided that the DSWD deems them able to care from themselves or
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that they are endorsed to their family or guardians who will take responsibility for their
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care.
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Beneficiaries who have recovered from the impairment which prevents them to
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take care of themselves may be endorsed to the Department of Labor and
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Employment or the DSWD Livelihood program for employment or livelihood
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opportunities and the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development
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(DHSUD).
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SEC. 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). -The DSWD, in coordination
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with the Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Health and the
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Federation of Senior Citizens Associations of the Philippines, and Confederation of
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Older Persons Associations of the Philippines, shall hereby promulgate the rules and
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regulations to carry out the provisions this Act not later than ninety (90) days after its
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effectivity.
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SEC. 7. Exemptions of the Nursing Home. - The established nursing home shall
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be exempted from the payment of customs duties, taxes, and tariffs on the
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importation of equipment and supplies used actually, directly, and exclusively by the
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nursing home pursuant to this Act, including those donated to the Nursing Home.


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SEC. 8. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of
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this Act shali be inciuded in the General Appropriations Act of the year following its
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enactment into law and every year thereafter.
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SEC. 9. Separabiiity Cause. - If, for any reason, any section, subsection, clause
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or term of this Act is held invalid or unconstitutional, such parts not affected by such
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declaration shall remain in full force and effect.
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SEC. 10. Repeaiing Cause. - All existing laws, orders, decrees, rules and
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regulations, or parts thereof, inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby
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amended, modified or repealed accordingly.
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SEC. 11. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
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publication in the OfEciai Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
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Approved,