TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
'3
U AlO -26
S. No.
SENATE
461
Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR GERIATRIC HEALTH AND 
RESEARCH INSTITUTE, DEFINING ITS POWERS AND FUNCTIONS, 
CREATING REGIONAL GERIATRIC SPECIALTY CENTERS IN THE 
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH-RETAINED HOSPITALS, AND APPROPRIATING 
FUNDS THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Filipino culture ingrains respect to the elderly that promoted extended families 
since time immemorial. It is lamenting to know, however, that Filipino elderly are 
neglected in various aspects. The study conducted by Ibon Foundation, 'The 
Filipino elderly are left behind" published on May 13, 2021 discussed the various 
concerns of Filipino senior citizens including poverty, employment, retirement and 
health. It states that the elderly Filipinos have poor health status and fail to consult 
a physician mainly because of financial reasons. According to the study, "More than 
half (58%) of older Filipinos have at least one of COVID-19's known comorbidities, 
such as high blood pressure (45.5%), diabetes (12.6%), heart disease (12.2%), and 
renal failure (11.8%). However, healthcare utilization among the elderly is low."
Related to this, there are many challenges in the government's effort to 
provide holistic and effective health care to Filipino senior citizens, especially those 
who belong to the lower strata of the society. According to the article, "Gaps and


opportunities in addressing the needs of older adults in the Philippines and Vietnam: 
a qualitative exploration of health and social workers' experiences in urban care 
settings" published on March 22, 2024, "In less developed countries, it is challenging 
to distribute healthcare resources efficiently due to the economics of aging and care 
financing, requiring consideration of various factors such as healthcare financing and 
delivery systems, social security, and long-term care, while the awareness of the 
issues related to the older population is low." It further stated that, "In the 
Philippines, a critical challenge comes from the local scarcity of healthcare workers, 
especially as the demand for Filipino nurses keeps growing in other developed 
countries, leaving the country with a lack of experienced workforce."1
According to the American Geriatrics Society, geriatrics is the specialty 
focused of high-quality, person-centered care as a person ages, which aims to 
improve health, independence, and quality of life for elder people.2 Undeniably, as 
people advance in age, they need special care particularly in terms of health and 
psychological support.
The '■'Geriatric Heaith Act' defines Geriatric Medicine or Geriatrics as "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 for older adults." The measure aims to provide accessible and 
holistic health services to senior citizens through the classification of the National 
Center for Geriatric Health and Research Institute (NCGH), which shall be renamed 
as National Center for Geriatric Health and Research Institute (NCGHRI). NCGHRI 
will be a specialized hospital for geriatric care and at the same time, a teaching, 
research and training institute in that field. At the same time, it will serve as an 
apex hospital or end-referral facility for senior citizens in the country. To ensure the 
sustainability of operations of the NCHGRI, provisions for its income retention, 
privilege and tax exemptions are included in the bill.
1 Frontiers I Gaps and opportunities in addressing the needs of older adults in the Philippines and Vietnam: a
qualitative exploration of health and social workers' experiences in urban care settings
2 About Geriatrics I American Geriatrics Society


In line with the objectives and mission of NCHGRI, the NCGH that is currently 
under the Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center (JRRMMC) will be absorbed by the 
NCGHRI and its independence from JRRMMC shall be fully realized within a period of 
two (2) years.
The measure also seeks to establish geriatric specialty centers in DOH 
regional hospitals and make geriatric health services available in all government 
primary health services.
In view of the foregoing, the swift passage of this measure is earnestly
sought.
EJERCITO ESTRADA


il
TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
S. No.
)
SENATE
461
25 JUL 14 A10:26
Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR GERIATRIC HEALTH AND 
RESEARCH INSTITUTE, DEFINING ITS POWERS AND FUNCTIONS, 
CREATING REGIONAL GERIATRIC SPECIALTY CENTERS IN THE 
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH-RETAINED HOSPITALS, AND APPROPRIATING 
FUNDS THEREFOR
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 "Geriatric Health Act".
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Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to protect and
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promote the right to health of senior citizens all over the country by ensuring that
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holistic health services are available and accessible to them through the
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establishment of a specialized hospital and research institute as well as geriatric
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specialty centers in the Department of Health (DOH)-retained hospitals in every
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region.
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Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act:
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a) Acute care - refers to a specialized program that addresses the needs
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of hospitalized older adults in a multidisciplinary team approach to
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prevent functional and cognitive decline and to improve outcomes;
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b) Apex or end-referrai hospital - refers to a hospital offering specialized
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services as determined by DOH, which is contracted as a stand-alone
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facility by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth);


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c) Geriatric heaith 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 heaith and treat disabilities for older adults;
e) Geriatric paiiiative 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 speciaity center - refers to a unit or department in a DOH- 
retained hospital that offers specialized care to the aging population, 
particularly of 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 examination for the practice of Geriatric 
Medicine;
h) Gerontoiogy - refers to the study of the biological, psychological, 
spiritual, social, economic, and the demographic aspects of the aging 
process;
i) Home-based heaithcare and reabiement 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 deiivery of geriatric heaith services - refers to hospital and 
community-based medical and psycho-social services provided to 
senior citizens by a multidisciplinary team;
k) Muiti-discipiinary team - refers to a team composed of health 
professionals headed by a geriatrician and includes surgeons, organ-


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system specialists, nurses, clinical pharmacists, rehabilitation
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therapists, nutritionists, dentists, social workers, caregivers, family
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members, and patients themselves;
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I) People-centered service - refers to an approach to geriatric care that
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consciously adopts the perspectives of individuals, families and
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communities, and sees them as participants as well as beneficiaries of
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trusted health systems that respond to their needs and preferences in
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holistic and humane ways;
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m) Senior citizen - refers to an elderly Filipino who is at least sixty (60)
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years old;
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n) Sub-acute care - refers to care for patients who no longer require
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hospitalization, but still need skilled medical care through rehabilitative
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medicine. Sub-acute rehabilitation is recommended when a patient is
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not functionally able to return home; and
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o) Transitional care - refers to a form of health care in geriatric medicine
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designed to ensure coordination and continuity of care as patients
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transfer between different locations or different levels of care, and the
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safe and effective management of both chronic and acute illness in
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older adults.
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Sec. 4. National Center for Geriatric Health and Research Institute. - The
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National Center for Geriatric Health (NCGH) is hereby classified as a teaching,
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research and training hospital that shall specialize in geriatric care and serve as an
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apex hospital or end-referral facility for senior citizens in the country. The NCGH
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shall be renamed as the National Center for Geriatric Health and Research Institute
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(NCGHRI) and shall be under the direct control and supervision of the DOH.
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The bed capacity, service capabilities, healthcare facilities, expansion,
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organizational structure and human resource requirements of the NCGHRI shall be
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based on the hospital and human resource development plan to be prepared by the
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NCGHRI and approved by the DOH.
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Sec. 5. Powers and Functions. - To carry out the provisions of this Act, the
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NCGHRI shall have the following powers and functions:


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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, academic, 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 (lA-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 lA- 
NIH;
h) Develop and maintain a core information hub on geriatric and 
gerontological studies in coordination with the lA-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;


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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 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;
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Finance, sponsor, hold or participate in congresses, convention, 
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 psycho-social 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


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geriatric care service providers across the country and ensure the
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delivery of quality health services for senior citizens;
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e) Education programs and scholarships to pursue excellence and the
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highest level of quality in the practice of the specialized fieid of
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geriatrics and other related fields, including postgraduate training and
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short-term courses for medical doctors and other allied medical health
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professions, in coordination with the lA-NIH; and,
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f) Education programs in geriatrics and gerontology subjects in
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undergraduate health and allied professions, including training of
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students, as weli as postgraduate medical education of physicians,
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nurses, allied professionals, pharmacists, dentists and sociai workers.
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The Geriatric Specialty Fellowship Training Program of the NCGHRI shall seek
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and maintain full accreditation status in the Philippine College of Geriatric Medicine.
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The NCGHRI shall ensure the accessibility of ail its programs and services and
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take into consideration the special needs of senior citizens with disabiiities.
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Sec. 7. Organizational Structure and Staffing Pattern. - The Secretary of the
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DOH shall determine the organizational structure and staffing pattern of the NCGHRI
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in accordance with the revised compensation and position classification system
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subject to the evaluation and approval of the Department of Budget and
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Management (DBM) and in compliance with the civil service laws, rules and
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regulations.
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Sec. 8. Establishment of Geriatric Specialty Centers. - Geriatric specialty
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centers are hereby established in DOH regional hospitals, which shall serve as apex
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or end-referral hospitals of the health care provider networks and training and
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research facilities on geriatric specialty care services. Geriatric health services shall
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be available in all government primary health facilities.
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The level of geriatric services and corresponding facilities in specialty centers
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and their respective health human resource requirements shall be determined by the
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DOH, in coordination with NCGHRI and other stakeholders: Provided, That the
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standards to be adopted thereon shall be consistent with the Philippine Health
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Facility Development Plan and Section 6 of this Act.


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Sec. 9. Categorization of Patients. - The DOH shall ensure that the NCGHRI
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shall adopt and enforce a categorization of paying and non-paying patients. The
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allocation of beds for non-paying patients shall be not less than seventy percent
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(70%) of the total number of hospital beds.
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Sec. 10. Income Retention. - All income generated from the operations of the
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NCGHRI shall be deposited in an authorized government depository bank and shall
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be used to augment the funds allocated for its maintenance, other operating
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expenses and capital outlay requirements, subject to the guidelines set by the DOH
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and the DBM.
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Sec. 11. Priviiege. - The NCGHRI may request and receive assistance from
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the different agencies, bureaus, offices or instrumentalities of the government,
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including the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office and Philippine Amusement and
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Gaming Corporation, in pursuit of its purposes and objectives.
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Sec. 12. Tax Exemptions. - All donations, endowments, contributions, grants
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and bequests used actually, directly and exclusively for an in accordance with the
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purposes and functions of the NCGHRI shall be exempt from donor's tax, and the
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same shall be considered as allowable deductions from gross income for purposes of
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computing the taxable income of the donor, in accordance with the provisions of the
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National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended.
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The NCGHRI shall be exempt from income tax and customs duty levied by the
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government and its political subdivisions, agencies and instrumentalities subject to
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the provisions of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended, and
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Republic Act No. 10863, otherwise known as the "Customs Modernization and Tariff
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Act".
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The NCGHRI shall avail of the tax expenditure subsidy administered by the
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Fiscal Incentives Review Board (FIRB), subject to the provisions of Title XIII (Tax
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Incentives) of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended. Executive
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Order No. 93, as amended, and the General Appropriations Act.
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Sec. 13. Coordination with and Assistance from Other Government Agencies.
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- The NCGHRI shall collaborate with the National Commission of Senior Citizens
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(NCSC) in the development of its programs and services. It may likewise call upon


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any department, bureau, office, agency or instrumentality of the government for
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assistance, in the pursuit of the purposes and objectives of this Act.
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Sec. 14. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the implementation of
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this Act shall be charged against the current year's appropriation of the DOH.
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Thereafter, the funding of which shall be included in the annual General
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Appropriations Act.
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Sec. 15. Annual Report. - The NCGHRI shall submit an annual report to the
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President of the Philippines, the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, the
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House of Representatives Committee on Health, and the NCSC, on its activities,
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accomplishments and recommendations to further improve the delivery of geriatric
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health services.
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Sec. 16. Transitory Provisions. - In accomplishing organizational changes and
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improvements that have to be implemented, the following transitory provisions shall
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be complied with:
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a) The National Center for Geriatric Health (NCGH) currently under the
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Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center (JRRMMC) shall be absorbed by
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NCGHRI including its existing personnel regardless of status, and all
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buildings and equipment, fixtures and furnishings, other assets and
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liabilities, and current appropriations;
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b) The independence of the NCGHRI from the JRRMMC shall be fully
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realized within a period of two (2) years. The DOH shall ensure that no
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disruption of service will occur during this transitory period;
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c) The existing officials and employees of the NCGH shall continue to
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assume the duties of their positions until new appointments are issued.
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They shall be placed in the new staffing pattern of the NCGHRI in
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accordance with R.A. No. 6656, entitled "An Act to Protect the Security
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of Tenure of Civil Service Officers and Employees in the
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Implementation of Government Reorganization" and the rules and
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regulations governing reorganization. Officials and employees,
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including casual and temporary employees, who shall not be absorbed
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in the new staffing pattern due to redundancy shall avail of the
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applicable retirement benefits and separation incentives as provided


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under existing laws: Provided, That officials and employees holding
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permanent appointment shall also be given the option to be
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transferred to other units or offices within the DOH without a reduction
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in rank, status, pay and benefits;
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d) Research grants acquired by the NCGHRI during the transition shall be
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utilized solely for their intended purposes and of the affected units or
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offices; and
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e) Existing contracts and agreement entered into with third parties prior
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to the enactment of this Ac shall remain valid.
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Sec. 17. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Secretary of Health shall,
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in consultation with the Secretary of Budget and Management, Secretary of Social
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Welfare and Development, and the Chairperson of the NCSC, promulgate rules and
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regulations for the effective implementation of this Act within ninety (90) days after
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its effectivity.
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Sec. 18. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or
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unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision or part not otherwise
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affected shall remain valid and subsisting.
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Sec. 19. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance,
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executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule, or regulation
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contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed,
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modified, or amended accordingly.
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Sec. 20. 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.
Approved,