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NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ] 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ] 
F/rst Regular Session 
]
Senate
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MS -I M*45
SENATE
3.B. No. 950
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 socie^/ place great emphasis on respect and care for our 
elders. The family unit usually consists of not only the members of the immediate 
family but also of grandparents that are taken in and cared for by their descendants. 
As most Asian communities, Filipinos choose to take care of their eiders themselves in 
their homes as a sign of gratitude and respect.
Hov\/ever, there are rising incidents of abandonment and neglect of the elderly 
in the country today. This can be attributed to various reasons such as the economic 
reality of spending for the care of an elderly person which may become unbearable 
for households that do not earn enough; or family problems that n*ay lead the elderly 
and their children to become estranged; or the incapability to care for the elderly 
because of a busy schedule or work-related issues; or a combination of some or ail of 
these unfortunate circumstances.
The city of Valenzuela is still a witness to this phenomenon of elderly 
abandonment, and had come up with solutions to cater to the needs of these


abandoned and neglected elders. As such, in 2012, the cib/ established "Bahay 
Kalinga", a two-storey half-way home of 25 homeless or abandoned senior citizens 
found in the city. By 2021, a new four-storey faciiity was opened as the new home 
for the elderly, "Bahay Kanlungan Tahanan nina Lolo at Lola"1, which can accomodate 
up to 90 eideriy residents. It aiso has its own clinic, physical therapists, psychologists, 
nutritionists, and house parents who watch over the senior citizens 24/7.
While Bahay Kalinga and Bahay Kanlungan provide a "home-like" environment 
for the senior citizens, the growing number of unattended, neglected, abandoned and 
homeless senior citizens in the country cannot be ignored.
Aligned with the Constitutional mandate to protect the welfare of senior 
citizens, especially pauper elders, this bill seeks to provide a framework for other iocai 
government units (LGUs) to replicate what Valenzuela and other cities and 
municipalities have done for the plight of vulnerable sectors of their senior citizens, 
who by circumstances, have no resources nor support in their twilight years. This bill 
aiso provides that nursing homes for abandoned and neglected seniors will be built by 
LGUs, to be operated and maintained by the Department of Sociai Welfare and 
Development (DSWD), in coordination with said LGUs, complementing Republic Act 
No. 7876 or the "Senior Citizens Center Act of the Philippines," which creates a DSWD- 
led Senior Citizens Center in eveiy city and municipality, that implements trainings and 
opportunities for productive activities and work schemes of senior citizens, to provide
or improve their Income.
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill iS/^rnestly sought.
1 This is Valenzuela City's third facility dedicated to the most vulnerable sectors of the society. Others 
are Bahay Kalinga, which was created for the neglected and abused children; and Bahay Paq-asa, 
which was established for juvenile offenders and children in conflictith the law.


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
SENATE
S.B. No. 950
Senate
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H RUG -1 Md"43
RKBvaite
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 Phiiippines 
in Congress assembied:
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SECTION 1. Short Tide. - This Act shall be krown as the "Homes for 
Abandoned Seniors Act of2022."
SEC. 2. Deciaration of Poiicy. - 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 been
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deserted, permanently or temporarily, by his relatives or persons who have
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general or legal responsibility over the senior citizen, and/or from whom all
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basic care has been withdrawn, whether willfully or not;
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b. Homeless Senior Citizen refers to a senior who lacks a fixed, regular
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residence, or whose current residence is unfit for human habitation, or lacks
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resources to obtain proper housing;
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c. Nursing Home refers to a home for the aged, established and
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maintained under this Act by a city or municipality which provides living
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accommodations, food and clothing, medical and health care, and recreational
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and social interaction activities for abandoned senior citizens or homeless senior
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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. - There shall be established in
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every municipality and city, a nursing home to serve abandoned senior citizens
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and homeless senior citizens, to be built by the local government units (LCDs)
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concerned and shall be operated and maintained by the Department of Social
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Welfare and Development (DSWD) in coordination witi i said LGUs.
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SEC. 5. Functions of Nursing Homes. - The nursing homes shall provide
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homeless senior citizens or abandoned senior citizens within its territorial
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jurisdiction institutionalized residential care programs and services such as but
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not limited to:
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a. Comfortable living quarters;
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b. Adequate food and clothing;
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c. Medical consultation or treatment;
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d. Health care;
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e. Occupational opportunities;
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f. Recreational and social interaction activities;
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g. Counseling;


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h. Case conference;
i. Family dialogue;
j. Outreach to existing family for reintegration;
k. Literacy education;
l. Productivity development; and
m. Religious, cultural and vocational activities.
SEC. 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The DSWD, in 
coordination with the Department of Interior and Local Government, 
Department of Health, the Federation of Senior Citizens Associations of the 
Philippines, and the Confederation of Older Persons Associations of the 
Philippines, shall hereby promulgate the rules and regulations to carry out the 
provisions 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 Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared 
invalid or unconstitutional, the provisions not affected thereby shall remain In 
full force and effect.
SEC. 10. Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential decrees, executive 
orders, presidential proclamations, rules and regulations or parts thereof 
contrary to or inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified 
accordingly.


SEC. 11. Eifectivity. -This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation in the 
Philippines.
Approved/