NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
SENATE 
S.B. No. 1317
Senate
of t’.ie
■22 SEP 14 P5 ’-ll
UtCtSVEL'T:;
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR RISA HONTIVEROS
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE PHILIPPINE GERIATRIC CENTER UNDER THE 
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported that there are 12.3 million senior 
citizens in the country. They constitute 11.31% of the country's total population as of May 
2020.
The country is projected to transition to an aging population between 2025 to 
20301. The increasing number of older people will have implications for their pensions 
and their overaii health.
To date, more than half or 55% of our senior citizens have no pension, 23% receive 
a pension from the private sector, 6% receive a pension from the government, and 16% 
receive a social pension of oniy P5002.
Furthermore, the Department of Health (DOH) reported geriatric wards' 
unavailability and a shortage of geriatricians3.
Most of our aging population have littie to no financial means, making the highiy 
speciaiized field of geriatric medical and long-term care even more out of reach. Thus, a 
need for accessible and quality health care for older people to respond to their health and
1 Philippine Statistics Authority, Provision of Care for Filipino Older Persons and Responding to the Needs of Aging 
Societies, Feb. 2019, available at:
https://www.un.org^n/development/desa/population/events/pdf/expert/29/session8/EGM_26Feb2019_S8_PleneeGra 
ceJCastillo.pdf.
2 Senate Committee Hearing on the National Commission of Senior Citizens Act, Jan. 2019
3 DOH - Health Facility Development Bureau, Research and Performance Management Division, Oct. 2019, available 
at:
https://psa.gov.ph/sites/default/files/8.3.1%20Profile%20of%20Geriatric%20Wards%20and%20Accessibility%20of%
20Health%20Services%20for%20Senior%20Citizens.pdf
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medical conditions, risks, and vulnerabilities.
To this end, the bill seeks to establish and institutionalize a national center for 
geriatric health, a specialty hospital under the DOH, that will cater to older people's needs.
The geriatric center is envisioned to provide a full range of health care services to 
ensure our aging population's quality of life, become an end-referral center for all geriatric 
healthcare providers, and to stimulate research and training in geriatric health service.
It is our ardent hope that the establishment and institutionalization of the national 
center for geriatric health will contribute to addressing the vulnerabilities and burden of 
disease among our aging population.
Lastly, the bill is in remembrance of our elderlies who died due to COVID-194, 
especially to our colleague in the House of Representatives, this 18th Congress, Senior 
Citizens Partylist Rep. Francisco G. Datol, Jr.5
As such, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
RISA HONTIVEROS v 
Senator
4 WHO: Elderly Comprise Most of COVID-19 Deaths in PHL, https://www.onenews.ph/who-elderly-comprise-most-of- 
covid-19-deaths-in-phl-public-markets-other-sources-of-new-transmission-identified
5 Senior Citizens lawmaker Francisco Datol Jr., dies of COVID-19, https://www.rappler.com/nation/senior-citizens- 
lawmakers-francisco-datol-jr-dies


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
SENATE
S.B. No. 1317
22 SEP p5:11
RtCBV£0 i't.___
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR RISA HONTIVEROS
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE PHILIPPINE GERIATRIC CENTER UNDER THE 
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Phiiippines in Congress 
assembled:
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Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Philippine Geriatric Center
Act".
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. — It is hereby declared a policy of the State to protect 
and promote the right to health of the Filipino people and to instill health consciousness 
among them.
Towards this end, the State shall adopt an integrated and comprehensive approach to 
health development. It shall ensure that quality health services are available and 
accessible to them by establishing a specialized hospital that will cater to their medical 
and health needs.
Sec. 3. Philippine Geriatric Center. - The National Center for Geriatric Health 
(NCGH), located in San Miguel, Manila, is hereby renamed as the Philippine Geriatric 
Center (PGC) and established as a tertiary specialty hospital under the direct control and 
supervision of the Department of Health to ensure healthcare and quality of life of our 
older and ageing population.
The existing hospital development plan, current bed capacity and service capabilities, 
including organizational structure and staffing requirements, shall be updated and 
upgraded consistent with the given mandate under this Act.
Sec. 4. Purposes and Objectives. - The PGC shall have the following purposes and 
objectives:
a) Equip, maintain, administer and operate an integrated medical institution 
which shall specialize in geriatric health services;


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b) Promote medical services to the elderly and scientific research/database
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relative to the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, care, rehabilitation and
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relief of disease of older people and aging population;
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c) Provide education and training of physicians, nurses, officers, social
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workers, barangay health workers, and other medical and technical
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personnel in the practice and scientific implementation of health services to
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older people and aging population; and
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d) Coordinate the various efforts and activities of other government agencies
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and local government units for the purpose of achieving a comprehensive
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and integrated approach to geriatric health and healthcare service delivery.
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Sec. 5. Referral System.-Jhe PGC shall be the National Specialty Referral Center
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for all private and government facilities for specialized geriatric care.
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Sec. 6. Appropriations. - An amount of One Hundred Million Pesos (PhP
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100,000,000.00) shall be appropriated for the establishment and Initial operations of the
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PGC.
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Furthermore, the Secretary of Health shall immediately include in the Department's
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program the implementation of this Act, the funding of which shall be included in the
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subsequent Annual General Appropriations Act.
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Thereafter, the amount necessary for the continued operation of the hospital, upgrading,
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and expansion of services shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.
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Sec. 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Department of Health shall, in
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consultation and coordination with appropriate government agencies, such as
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Department of Budget and Management (DBM), Civil Service Commission (CSC), National
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Commission on Senior Citizens (NCSC), Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), Non-
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Government Organizations (NGOs), and other stakeholders, within ninety (90) days from
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the effectivity of this Act, promulgate the Implementing Rules and Regulations for the
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effective and efficient implementation of the provisions of this Act.
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Sec. 8. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is held invalid or
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unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity and effectivity of the other
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provisions hereof.
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Sec. 9. Repealing Clause. — All existing laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and
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regulations, or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed,
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amended or modified accordingly.
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Sec. 10. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
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publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,