I'Sffuv of
TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ] 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ] 
First Regular Session 
]
25 JUL15 PI 51
S.B. No
SENATE
635
Rl:CLl.' JB'.,
Introduced by SEN. WIN GATCHALIAN
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A NURSING HOME FOR HOMELESS AND 
ABANDONED SENIOR CITIZENS IN EVERY CITY OR MUNICIPALITY IN THE 
PHILIPPINES, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR,
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Filipino culture and society place great importance on honoring and caring for 
elderly. The family unit often extends beyond the immediate members to include 
grandparents, who are welcomed into the household and cared for by their 
descendants. Like many Asian communities, Filipinos traditionally care for their elderly 
at home as an expression of gratitude and respect.
Flowever, there is a growing number of cases involving abandonment and 
neglect of the elderly in the country. This may be attributed to several factors, 
including the financial burden of caring for an elderly family-member, especially in 
households with limited income; family problems or domestic issues that may result 
in estrangement between the elderly and their children; or the inability of family 
members to provide proper care for the elderly due to demanding work schedules or 
other responsibilities. In many instances, we see a combination of these challenges in 
households, posing even greater challenges for affected families.


The city of Valenzuela has witnessed cases of elderly abandonment and has 
since developed initiatives to address the needs of abandoned and neglected senior 
citizens. In 2012, the city established "Bahay Kalinga", a two-story half-way home for 
25 homeless or abandoned senior citizens in the city. In 2021, a new four-story 
facility, dubbed as "Bahay Kanlungan Tahanan nina Lolo at Lola", was opened as the 
new home for the elderly, which can accommodate up to 90 elderly residents. It also 
has its own clinic, physical therapists, psychologists, nutritionists, and house parents 
who watch over the senior citizens 24/7.
Unfortunately, elderly nursing homes like Bahay Kalinga and Bahay Kanlungan 
remain to be exceptions rather than the rule in the Philippines, with the number of 
unattended, neglected, abandoned and homeless elderly or senior citizens across the 
country continuously increasing through the years.
Aligned with the Constitutional mandate to protect the welfare of senior 
citizens, especially pauper elders, this bill seeks to establish a framework that enables 
other local government units (LGUs) to replicate the initiatives undertaken by 
Valenzuela and other cities and municipalities in addressing the needs of the 
vulnerable elderly populations who, due to their circumstances, lack both resources 
and family support in their twilight years. This bill further mandates the construction 
of nursing homes for abandoned and neglected senior citizens by LGUs, to be operated 
and maintained by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), in 
coordination with the concerned LGUs. This measure aims to compliment Republic Act 
No. 7876 or the "Senior Citizens Center Act of the Philippines", which mandates the 
establishment of DSWD-led Senior Citizens Center in every city and municipality to 
provide trainings and opportunities for productive activities and work schemes of 
senior citizens aimed at generating income for the elderly.
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of tfi 
ly sought.
GATC


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I
TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
25 JUL15 PI 51
S.B. No.
SENATE
635
RHCEIV£D BV
Introduced by SEN. WIN GATCHALIAN
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A NURSING HOME FOR HOMELESS AND 
ABANDONED SENIOR CITIZENS IN EVERY CITY OR MUNICIPALITY 
IN THE PHILIPPINES, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, 
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
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 "Homes for 
Abandoned Seniors Act".
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the 
State to value the dignity of every human person, guarantee full respect for 
human rights, extend assistance to its elderly citizens through programs of 
social security, and promote the right to health and safety of senior citizens. 
Towards this end, the State shall extend assistance to abandoned and homeless 
senior citizens through a social care and security program.
SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act, the following terms 
shall mean:


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a. Abandoned Senior Citizen refers to a senior citizen who has no means
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of meeting basic needs, or whose family had deserted them and as, such,
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appropriate care, protection and support are not met;
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b. Homeless Senior Citizen refers to a senior citizen who lacks a fixed,
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regular, and adequate residence, or who resides in a place unfit for human
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habitation, or who lacks the means and resources to secure, safe, and proper
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permanent housing;
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c. Nursing Home refers to a home for the elderly persons, established
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and maintained under this Act by a city or municipality, which provides living
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accommodations and support services. These include food and clothing,
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medical and 
health care, as well as afld recreational and social interaction
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activities. It primarily serves far abandoned senior citizens who lack family
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support or homeless senior citizens;
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d. Senior Citizen refers to any resident citizen of the Philippines at least
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sixty (60) years of age.
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SEC. 4. Establishment of Nursing Homes. - A nursing home shall be
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established in every municipality and city to provide care for abandoned and
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homeless senior citizens. The facilities shall be constructed by the respective
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local government units (LGUs) and shall be operated and maintained by the
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Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), in coordination with
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the concerned LGUs.
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SEC. 5. Functions of Nursing Homes. - The nursing homes established
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under this Act shall provide institutionalized residential care programs and
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services to homeless or abandoned senior citizens within their territorial
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jurisdiction. These services shall include but not be limited to the following:
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a. 
Comfortable and safe living accommodation;
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b. 
Adequate food and appropriate clothing;
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c. Access to medical consultation and necessary treatment;
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d. 
Health care services;
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e. 
Occupational opportunities;


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f. 
Recreational and social interaction activities;
g. 
Counseling services;
h. 
Case conference;
i. 
Facilitation of family dialogue sessions;
j. 
Outreach to existing family members for reintegration;
k. 
Literacy and continuing education program;
l. 
Skills and productivity development activities; and
m. 
Religious, cultural and vocational enrichment program/activities.
SEC. 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The DSWD, in 
coordination with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), 
Department of Health (DOH), the Federation of Senior Citizens Associations of 
the Philippines (FSCAP), and the Confederation of Older Persons Associations 
of the Philippines (COPAP), shall promulgate the necessary rules and 
regulations to effectively implement the provisions this Act, not later than ninety 
(90) days from its effectivity.
SEC. 7. Exemptions of the Nursing Home. - The established nursing 
home shall be exempt from the payment of customs duties, taxes, and tariffs 
on the importation of equipment and supplies that are actually, directly, and 
exclusively used for the operation of the nursing home pursuant to this Act, 
including items donated to the nursing home for such purpose.
SEC. 8. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to carry 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.
SEC. 9. 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.


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SEC. 10. Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential decrees, executive
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orders, presidential proclamations, rules and regulations, or parts thereof
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contrary to or inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified
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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 Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation in the
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Philippines.
Approved,