Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
______________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by HON. GUS S. TAMBUNTING 
______________________________________________________________________ 
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 
Sec. 11, Art. XIII of the 1987 Constitution states that “The State shall adopt an integrated 
and comprehensive approach to health development which shall endeavor to make 
essential goods, health and other social services available to all the people at affordable 
cost. There shall be priority for the needs of the underprivileged sick, elderly, disabled, 
women, and children. The State shall endeavor to provide free medical care to paupers.” 
Sec. 4, Art. XV of the 1987 Constitution states that “The family has the duty to care for its 
elderly members but the State may also do so through just programs of social security.” 
Filipinos are known to take care of the elderly. Although most Filipinos take care of their 
elderly relatives, there are still abandoned, senior citizens.  
This bill aims to establish a nursing home for qualified homeless and abandoned senior 
citizens in every city or municipality in the Philippines.  
On behalf of the people of Parañaque City’s Second District, and for the common good 
of the Filipino people, the approval of the said measure is earnestly sought. 
REP. GUS S. TAMBUNTING 
2nd District, Parañaque City 
November 21, 2022
8:00 am
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
______________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by HON. GUS S. TAMBUNTING 
______________________________________________________________________ 
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 
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 "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: 
(a) Abandoned Senior Citizen refers to a senior citizen who has been deserted,
permanently or temporarily, by his relatives or persons who have general or 
legal responsibility over the senior citizen, and/or from whom all basic care has 
been withdrawn, whether willfully or not; 
(b) Homeless Senior Citizen refers to a senior who lacks a fixed, regular residence,
or whose current residence is unfit for human habitation, or lacks resources to 
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obtain proper housing; 
 (c) Nursing Home refers to a home for the aged, established and maintained under 
this Act by a city or municipality which provides living accommodations, food 
and clothing, medical and health care, recreational and social interaction 
activities for abandoned senior citizens or homeless senior citizens; 
 (d) Senior Citizen refers to any resident citizen of the Philippines with at least sixty 
 (60) years of age; and 
SEC. 4. Establishment of Nursing Homes. -There shall be established in every 
municipality and city, a nursing home to serve qualified abandoned and homeless 
senior citizens (beneficiaries), to be built by the local government units (LGUs) 
concerned and shall be operated and maintained by the Department of Social Welfare 
and Development (DSWD) in coordination with the LGUs concerned. 
To qualify for availment, the beneficiary must have neither the means nor the ability to 
care for him/herself. 
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; 
 (g) Case conference; 
 (h) Family dialogue; 
 (i) Outreach to the existing family for reintegration; 
(j) Literacy education; 
 (k) Productivity development; and 


 (I) Religious, cultural and vocational activities. 
SEC. 5. Voluntary Exit from the Home. - Any beneficiary may opt to leave the 
nursing home provided that the DSWD deems them able to care from themselves or 
that they are endorsed to their family or guardians who will take responsibility for their 
care. 
Beneficiaries who have recovered from the impairment which prevents them to 
take care of themselves may be endorsed to the Department of Labor and 
Employment or the DSWD Livelihood program for employment or livelihood 
opportunities and the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development 
 (DHSUD). 
SEC. 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). -The DSWD, in coordination 
with the Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Health and the 
Federation of Senior Citizens Associations of the Philippines, and Confederation of 
Older Persons Associations of the Philippines shall hereby promulgate the rules and 
regulations to carry out the provisions of this Act not later than ninety (90) days after its 
effectivity. 
SEC. 7. Exemptions of the Nursing Home. - The established nursing home shall 
be exempted from the payment of customs duties, taxes, and tariffs on the 
importation of equipment and supplies used actually, directly, and exclusively by the 
nursing home pursuant to this Act, including those donated to the Nursing Home. 
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 Cause. - If, for any reason, any section, subsection, clause 
or term of this Act is held invalid or unconstitutional, such parts not affected by such 
declaration shall remain in full force and effect. 
SEC. 10. Repealing Cause. - All existing laws, orders, decrees, rules and 
regulations or parts thereof, inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby 


amended, modified, or repealed accordingly. 
SEC. 11. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
Approved