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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. _______ 
Introduced by Representative Ron P. Salo 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Elderly people have special healthcare needs that can make caring for them 
more complicated. A large number of adults age 65 and older have 3 or more 
medical problems, such as heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, or high blood pressure. 
In addition, it has long been recognized that older people are at greater risk of 
acquiring certain diseases because human immune defenses become weaker with 
age. Hence, older people need specialized care from healthcare professionals. 
Recognizing the specific needs and vulnerabilities of the elderly, Section 11, 
Article XIII of the Philippine Constitution highlights the duty of the State to prioritize 
the health needs of the elderly, along with other underprivileged groups, sick 
persons, the disabled, women, and children. 
International bodies have long affirmed the right of the elderly to the highest 
attainable standard of health. In 1982, the United Nations (UN) General Assembly 
endorsed the Vienna International Plan of Action on Aging, which highlighted health 
and nutrition as key areas of concern for aging individuals. Stressing that policies 
and programs which respond to the specific needs and constraints of the elderly 
need to be implemented, the document stated that “the promotion of health, the 
prevention of disease and the maintaining of functional capacities among elderly 
persons should be actively pursued.” In 2002, the UN endorsed the Political 
Declaration and Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing, identifying the 
following priorities for action: (i) older persons and development; (ii) advancing health 
and well-being into old age; and (iii) ensuring that older people benefit from enabling 
and supportive environments. The World Health Organization (WHO), in its 2015 
World Report on Ageing and Health, stressed that “a wide range of laws, policies 
and actions is required to help create the appropriate conditions to ensure that older 
people can enjoy the highest attainable standard of health.” 
In light of the foregoing, this bill seeks to establish a National Center for 
Geriatric Health, a specialty hospital that will cater to the elderly population. The first 
of its kind in the country, it will ensure the availability and accessibility of quality 
health care services for the elderly. It will provide a full range of health care services 
including primary health care, wellness services, and behavioral health care for the 
elderly.  It will be a fulfilment of the State’s commitment under international laws to 
March 1, 2023
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deliver, without discrimination of any kind, good quality health facilities, goods and 
services. It is a step forward towards the full realization of the fundamental right to 
health of the elderly. 
Hence, approval of this bill is earnestly sought.  
RON P. SALO 
KABAYAN Partylist 


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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. _______ 
Introduced by Representative Ron P. Salo 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR GERIATRIC HEALTH, DEFINING 
ITS OBJECTIVES, POWERS AND FUNCTIONS, 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 “Geriatric Health 
Act.” 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is the policy of the State to protect and 
promote the right to health 1 of senior citizens all over the country by ensuring that 
holistic health services are available and accessible to them through the 
establishment of a specialized hospital and research institute as well as geriatric 
specialty centers in the Department of Health (DOH) - retained hospitals in every 
region. 
SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. – As used in this Act: 
a) Acute care refers to a specialized program that addresses the needs of
hospitalized older adults in a multidisciplinary team approach to prevent
functional and cognitive decline and to improve outcomes;
b) Apex or end-referral hospital refers to a hospital offering specialized
services as determined by DOH, which is contracted as a stand-alone
facility by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth);
c) Geriatric health services refer to the medical services or interventions
provided by a multidisciplinary team to older adult patients;
d) Geriatric medicine or Geriatrics refers to the sub-specialty of internal and
family medicine that diagnoses and treats a wide range of conditions and
diseases that affect people as they age and aims to promote health and
treat disabilities of older adults;
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e) Geriatric palliative care refers to a specialized medical care that focuses 
on providing elderly patients relief from pain and other symptoms of a 
serious illness, regardless of diagnosis or stage of disease, and provided 
alongside curative and other forms of treatment. It is a field of inter-
specialty collaboration to respond to the socio-demographic changes and 
challenges of older adults with severe and life-limiting conditions; 
 
f) Geriatric specialty center refers to a unit or department in a DOH-retained 
hospital that offers specialized care to the aging population, particularly to 
frail older persons, addressing their particular conditions and providing 
specific procedures and management of cases, requiring specialized 
training and/or equipment; 
 
g) Geriatrician refers to a medical doctor who has passed the necessary 
training and specialty licensure examination for the practice of Geriatric 
Medicine; 
 
h) Gerontology refers to the study of the biological, psychological, spiritual, 
social, economic, and the demographic aspects of the aging process; 
 
i) Home-based healthcare and reablement program refers to a community-
based service which primarily caters to the frail older persons who have 
lost or are experiencing problems with mobility; 
 
j) Integrated delivery of geriatric health services refers to hospital and 
community-based medical and psycho-social services provided to senior 
citizens by a multidisciplinary team; 
 
k) Multi-disciplinary team refers to a team composed of health professionals 
headed by a geriatrician and includes surgeons, organ-system specialists, 
nurses, clinical pharmacists, rehabilitation therapists, nutritionists, dentists, 
social workers, caregivers, family members and patients themselves; 
 
l) People-centered service refers to an approach to geriatric care that 
consciously adopts the perspectives of individuals, families, and 
communities, and sees them as participants as well as beneficiaries of 
trusted health systems that respond to their needs and preferences in 
holistic and humane ways; 
 
m) Senior citizen refers to an elderly Filipino who is at least sixty (60) years 
old; 
 
n) Sub-acute care refers to care for patients who no longer require 
hospitalization, but still need skilled medical care through rehabilitative 
medicine. Sub-acute rehabilitation is recommended when a patient is not 
functionally able to return home; and, 
 
o) Transitional care refers to a form of health care in geriatric medicine 
designed to ensure coordination and continuity of care as patients transfer 


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between different locations or different levels of care, and the safe and 
effective management of both chronic and acute illness in older adults. 
 
SEC. 4. National Center for Geriatric Health and Research Institute. – The 
National Center for Geriatric Health (NCGH) is hereby classified as a teaching, 
research, and training hospital that shall specialize in geriatric care and serve as an 
apex hospital or end-referral facility for senior citizens in the country. The NCGH 
shall be renamed as the National Center for Geriatric Health and Research Institute 
(NCGHRI) and shall be under the direct control and supervision of the DOH. 
 
The bed capacity, service capabilities, healthcare facilities, expansion, 
organizational structure and human resource requirements of the NCGHRI shall be 
based on the hospital and human resource development plan to be prepared by the 
NCGHRI and approved by the DOH. 
 
SEC. 5. Powers and Functions. – To carry out the provisions of this Act, the 
NCGHRI shall have the following powers and functions: 
 
a) Serve as an apex hospital or end-referral facility which shall specialize in 
geriatric health services; 
 
b) Formulate a hospital development plan which shall be regularly updated to 
reflect the expansion and future development of the NCGHRI; 
 
c) Provide and maintain affordable, quality, and timely people-centered 
hospital care through an efficient health service delivery system for senior 
citizens; 
 
d) Provide higher and up-to-date geriatric training for professionals, 
postgraduates, academics and allied healthcare providers especially from 
the geriatric specialty centers in the regions and LGUs, and other 
government hospitals; 
 
e) Develop and implement cutting edge research studies on diseases related 
to old age with a view to translating research outcomes into policy and 
specialized health care solutions, and publish research studies that shall 
serve as a critical information resource for the medical and research 
community, in coordination with the Philippine Council on Health Research 
and Development (PCHRD) and the Institute on Aging of the National 
Institutes of Health (IA-NIH); 
 
f) Conduct and participate in international and local gerontological research 
activities; 
 
g) Provide consultancy service and technical assistance in the setting of 
standards for geriatric wards in every tertiary level hospital, nursing home 
and residential center catering to the health and functioning needs of 
senior citizens, in coordination with the PCHRD and the IA-NIH; 
 


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h) Develop and maintain a core information hub on geriatrics and 
gerontological studies in coordination with the IA-NIH and concerned 
offices in the DOH and its attached agencies, such as the Disease 
Prevention and Control Bureau and the Knowledge Management and 
Information Technology Service; 
 
i) Extend medical services to senior citizens pursuant to the goals, 
objectives, and rules of the National Health Insurance Program and in 
accordance with Republic Act No. 11223, otherwise known as the 
“Universal Health Care Act”; 
 
j) Provide an integrated and effective approach in the delivery of geriatric 
health services in collaboration with other government agencies, local 
government units (LGUs) and other stakeholders; 
 
k) Conduct specialty training and technical assistance in collaboration with 
concerned DOH offices and other relevant professional organizations; 
 
l) Finance, sponsor, hold or participate in congresses, conventions, 
conferences, seminars, workshops, and training programs on geriatric 
health services or related fields in the Philippines and abroad; and 
 
m) Establish a standardized referral system for psychosocial services. 
 
SEC. 6. Scope of Services. – The NCGHRI shall provide the following 
services: 
 
a) Hospital-based services to ensure the availability of medical facilities and 
equipment for senior citizens needing acute and sub-acute care, geriatric 
palliative care, transitional and outpatient care services, and such other 
necessary services; 
 
b) Community-based services utilizing multidisciplinary team approaches 
such as home-based healthcare and reablement programs, research and 
external resource outsourcing for community-based integrated geriatric 
health services and trainings necessary for the psycho-social functioning 
of senior citizens and their families, in coordination with LGUs; 
 
c) Technical assistance and capacity building in the establishment and 
maintenance of nursing homes and residential care facilities and senior 
citizens' wards in government hospitals pursuant to Republic Act No. 9994, 
otherwise known as the "Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010"; 
 
d) Technical assistance and capacity building in the establishment of geriatric 
specialty centers and services to strengthen the network of geriatric care 
service providers across the country and ensure the delivery of quality 
health services for senior citizens; 
 


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e) Education programs and scholarships to pursue excellence and the 
highest level of quality in the practice of the specialized field of geriatrics 
and other related fields, including postgraduate training and short-term 
courses for medical doctors and other allied medical health professions, in 
coordination with the IA-NIH; and 
 
f) Education 
programs 
in 
geriatrics 
and 
gerontology 
subjects 
in 
undergraduate health and allied professions, including training of students, 
as well as postgraduate medical education of physicians, nurses, allied 
professionals, pharmacists, dentists, and social workers. 
 
The Geriatric Specialty Fellowship Training Program of the NCGHRI shall 
seek and maintain full accreditation status in the Philippine College of Geriatric 
Medicine. 
 
The NCGHRI shall ensure the accessibility of all its programs and services 
and take into consideration the special needs of senior citizens with disabilities. 
 
SEC. 7. Organizational Structure and Staffing Pattern. – The Secretary of 
the DOH shall determine the organizational structure and staffing pattern of the 
NCGHRI in accordance with the revised compensation and position classification 
system subject to the evaluation and approval of the Department of Budget and 
Management (DBM) and in compliance with the civil service laws, rules and 
regulations.  
 
 
SEC. 8. Establishment of Geriatric Specialty Centers. – Geriatric specialty 
centers are hereby established in DOH regional hospitals, which shall serve as apex 
or end-referral hospitals of the health care provider networks and training and 
research facilities on geriatric specialty care services. Geriatric health services shall 
be available in all government primary health facilities. 
 
The level of geriatric services and corresponding facilities in specialty centers and 
their respective health human resource requirements shall be determined by the 
DOH, in coordination with NCGHRI and other stakeholders: Provided, That the 
standards to be adopted thereon shall be consistent with the Philippine Health 
Facility Development Plan and Section 6 of this Act. 
 
SEC. 9. Categorization of Patients. – The DOH shall ensure that the 
NCGHRI shall adopt and enforce a categorization of paying and non-paying patients. 
The allocation of beds for non-paying patients shall be not less than seventy percent 
(70%) of the total number of hospital beds.  
 
SEC. 10. Income Retention. – All income generated from the operations of 
the NCGHRI shall be deposited in an authorized government depository bank and 
shall be used to augment the funds allocated for its maintenance, other operating 
expenses and capital outlay requirements, subject to the guidelines set by the DOH 
and the DBM. 
 
SEC. 11. Privilege. – The NCGHRI may request and receive assistance from 
the different agencies, bureaus, offices or instrumentalities of the government, 


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including the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office and Philippine Amusement and 
Gaming Corporation, in pursuit of its purposes and objectives. 
 
SEC. 12. Tax Exemptions. – All donations, endowments, contributions, 
grants and bequests used actually, directly and exclusively for and in accordance 
with the purposes and functions of the NCGHRI shall be exempt from donor's tax, 
and the same shall be considered as allowable deductions from gross income for 
purposes of computing the taxable income of the donor, in accordance with the 
provisions of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended. 
 
The NCGHRI shall be exempt from income tax and customs duty levied by 
the government and its political subdivisions, agencies and instrumentalities subject 
to the provisions of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended and 
Republic Act No. 10863, otherwise known as the “Customs Modernization and Tariff 
Act.” 
 
The NCGHRI shall avail of the tax expenditure subsidy administered by the 
Fiscal Incentives Review Board (FIRB), subject to the provisions of Title XIII (Tax 
Incentives) of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended, Executive 
Order No. 93, as amended, and the General Appropriations Act. 
 
SEC. 13. Coordination with and Assistance from Other Government 
Agencies. – The NCGHRI shall collaborate with the National Commission of Senior 
Citizens (NCSC) in the development of its programs and services. It may likewise 
call upon any department, bureau, office, agency, or instrumentality of the 
government for assistance, in the pursuit of the purposes and objectives of this Act.  
 
SEC. 14. Appropriations. – The amount necessary for the implementation of 
this Act shall be charged against the current year’s appropriation of the DOH. 
Thereafter, the funding of which shall be included in the annual General 
Appropriations Act. 
 
SEC. 15. Annual Report. – The NCGHRI shall submit an annual report to the 
President of the Philippines, the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, the 
House of Representatives Committee on Health, and the NCSC, on its activities, 
accomplishments and recommendations to further improve the delivery of geriatric 
health services. 
 
SEC. 16. Transitory Provisions. – In accomplishing organizational changes 
and improvements that have to be implemented, the following transitory provisions 
shall be complied with: 
 
a) The National Center for Geriatric Health (NCGH) currently under the Jose 
R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center (JRRMMC) shall be absorbed by 
NCGHRI including its existing  personnel regardless of status, and all 
buildings and equipment, fixtures and furnishings, other assets and 
liabilities, and current appropriations; 
 


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b) The independence of the NCGHRI from the JRRMMC shall be fully 
realized within a period of two (2) years. The DOH shall ensure that no 
disruption of service will occur during this transitory period; 
 
c) The existing officials and employees of NCGH shall continue to assume 
the duties of their positions until new appointments are issued. They shall 
be placed in the new staffing pattern of the NCGHRI in accordance with 
R.A. No. 6656, entitled “An Act to Protect the Security of Tenure of Civil 
Service Officers and Employees in the Implementation of Government 
Reorganization” and the rules and regulations governing reorganization. 
Officials and employees, including casual and temporary employees, who 
shall not be absorbed in the new staffing pattern due to redundancy shall 
avail of the applicable retirement benefits and separation incentives as 
provided under existing laws: Provided, That officials and employees 
holding permanent appointment shall also be given the option to be 
transferred to other units or offices within the DOH without reduction in 
rank, status, pay and benefits; 
 
d) Research grants acquired by the NCGHRI during the transition shall be 
utilized solely for their intended purposes and of the affected units or 
offices; and 
 
e) Existing contracts and agreements entered into with third parties prior to 
the enactment of this Act shall remain valid. 
 
SEC. 17. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – The Secretary of Health 
shall, in consultation with the Secretary of Budget and Management, Secretary of 
Social Welfare and Development, and the Chairperson of the NCSC, promulgate 
rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act within ninety (90) 
days after its effectivity. 
 
SEC. 18. Separability Clause. – If any part or provision of this Act is held 
invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining parts or provisions not affected shall remain 
in full force and effect. 
 
SEC. 19. Repealing Clause. – All laws, decrees, orders, rules, and 
regulations, and other issuances or parts thereof, which are contrary to or 
inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly. 
 
SEC 20. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
 
Approved.