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Republic of the Philippines  
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House of Representatives 
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Quezon City 
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TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
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First Regular Session 
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House Bill No. __________ 
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Introduced by Representative Jernie Jett V. Nisay 
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EXPLANATORY NOTE 
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The Philippines faces a rapidly growing elderly population, bringing with it an urgent 
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need for specialized and accessible health services for senior citizens. Many older Filipinos lack 
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access to proper medical care tailored to their unique conditions, leaving them vulnerable to 
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untreated illnesses, functional decline, and poor quality of life. 
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This bill seeks to convert the Dr. Eva Macaraeg-Macapagal National Center for Geriatric 
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Health into the National Center for Geriatric Health and Research Institute (NCGHRI). The 
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NCGHRI will serve as the country’s premier geriatric specialty hospital and research hub, 
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providing holistic care—from acute and palliative services to rehabilitation and transitional 
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care—while advancing research, training, and policy development in geriatric medicine. 
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The measure also mandates the establishment of geriatric specialty centers nationwide, 
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enhances training for health professionals, and promotes a people-centered approach to senior 
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care. Through dedicated funding, research, and coordination with concerned agencies, this Act 
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will help ensure that every Filipino elder, especially the underprivileged, receives dignified and 
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quality health services. 
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In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
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      REP. JERNIE JETT V. NISAY 
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      Pusong Pinoy Partylist 
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September 10, 2025
3:58 pm
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Republic of the Philippines 
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House of Representatives 
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Quezon City 
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10 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
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12 
First Regular Session 
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House Bill No. __________ 
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Introduced by Representative Jernie Jett V. Nisay 
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AN ACT 
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CONVERTING THE DR. EVA MACARAEG-MACAPAGAL NATIONAL 
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CENTER FOR GERIATRIC HEALTH UNDER THE JOSE R. REYES MEMORIAL 
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MEDICAL CENTER AS THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR GERIATRIC HEALTH 
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AND RESEARCH INSTITUTE, DEFINING ITS POWERS AND FUNCTIONS, 
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 AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
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Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
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assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “Geriatric Health 
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Act.” 
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SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. – The State shall adopt an integrated and 
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comprehensive approach to health development, which shall endeavor to make 
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essential goods, health, and other social services available to all senior citizens at an 
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affordable cost. Priority shall be given to the underprivileged sick and disabled senior 
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citizens. 
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To this end, the State shall protect and promote the right to health of senior citizens 
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by ensuring holistic health services through the establishment of a geriatric specialty 
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hospital and research institute. 
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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 of
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hospitalized senior citizens through a multidisciplinary team approach to
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prevent functional and cognitive decline; 
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(b) Apex or end-referral hospital refers to a hospital that offers specialized 
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services as determined by the Department of Health (DOH), which is 
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contracted as a stand-alone facility by the Philippine Health Insurance 
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Corporation; 
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(c) Geriatric health services refer to the medical services or interventions  
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             provided by a multidisciplinary team to senior citizen patients; 
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(d) Geriatric medicine or Geriatrics refers to the sub-specialty of internal and  
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            family medicine that promotes the health of senior citizens, and assesses, 
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            diagnoses, and treats a wide range of conditions, diseases, disabilities, and 
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            complexities that affect people as they age; 
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(e) Geriatric palliative care refers to a specialized medical care that focuses on 
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providing senior citizens relief from pain and other symptoms of a serious illness, 
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            regardless of diagnosis or stage of disease, provided alongside curative and 
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            other forms of treatment. It is a field of inter-specialty collaboration that responds 
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            to the socio-demographic changes and challenges of senior citizens with severe 
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            and life-limiting conditions; 
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(f) Geriatric specialty center refers to a unit or department in a DOH hospital that offers  
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           specialized care to senior citizens, addressing their particular conditions and 
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           providing specific procedures and management of cases requiring specialized 
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           training and equipment; 
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(g) Geriatrician refers to a medical doctor who has passed the necessary  
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training and specialty licensure examination for the practice of Geriatric 
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Medicine; 
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(h) Gerontology refers to the study of the biological, psychological, spiritual, 
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social, economic, and demographic aspects of the aging process; 
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(i) Multidisciplinary team refers to a team composed of health professionals
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headed by a geriatrician and comprised of surgeons, organ-system specialists, 
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            nurses, clinical pharmacists, rehabilitation therapists, nutritionists, dentists, 
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            social workers, caregivers, family members, and patients; 
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(j) People-centered service refers to a holistic and humane approach to 
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geriatric care that adopts the perspectives of individuals, families, and 
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communities, and regards them as participants and beneficiaries of  
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health systems and Services; 
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(k) Senior citizen refers to an elderly Filipino who is at least sixty (60) years old; 
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(l) 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; and 
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(m) Transitional care refers to a form of health care in geriatric medicine 
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designed to ensure coordination and continuity of care for the safe and 
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effective management of both chronic and acute illness in senior citizens as 
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 they are transferred to different locations or levels of care. 
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SEC. 4. National Center for Geriatric Health and Research Institute. – The Dr. Eva 
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Macaraeg- Macapagal National Center for Geriatric Health (DEMMNCGH) under the Jose R. 
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Reyes Memorial Medical Center is hereby converted into a national specialty center to be 
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known as the National Center for Geriatric Health and Research Institute (NCGHRI), and shall 
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be under the direct control and supervision of the DOH. 
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The conversion of the DEMMNCGH shall be fully realized within a period of five (5) 
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years from the effectivity of this Act: Provided, That the DOH shall ensure that services shall 
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not be disrupted during the transitory period. 
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SEC. 5. Scope of Services. – The NCGHRI shall provide the following services: 
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(a) Hospital-based services to ensure the availability of medical facilities and 
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equipment for senior citizens needing acute and sub-acute care, geriatric 
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palliative care, outpatient care, and transitional care services; 
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(b) Specialized clinical, public health, and operations research and training 
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programs with a multidisciplinary or multi-center approach; 
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(c) Technical assistance and capacity building in the establishment of geriatric 
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specialty centers in accordance with Republic Act No. 11959, otherwise known 
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as the “Regional Specialty Centers Act,” and in geriatric health services in all 
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government primary health facilities and hospitals under the management of 
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local government units (LGUs); and 
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(d) Programs and services for the special needs of senior citizens with 
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disabilities. 
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SEC. 6. 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 that shall specialize in 
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geriatric health services; 
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(b) Increase the bed capacity, service capabilities, healthcare facilities, and 
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human resource requirements of the NCGHRI based on its hospital and human 
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resource development plan subject to the approval of the DOH; 
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(c) Provide and maintain people-centered service through an efficient health 
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service delivery system for senior citizens; 
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(d) Extend medical services to senior citizens in accordance with the National 
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Health Insurance Program pursuant to Republic Act No. 11223, otherwise known 
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as the “Universal Health Care Act”; 
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(e) Provide an integrated and effective approach in the delivery of geriatric health 
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services in collaboration with concerned government agencies and 
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stakeholders, and LGUs; 
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(f) Finance, sponsor, hold, or participate in local and international 
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conventions, conferences, congresses, seminars, workshops, and training 
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programs on geriatric health or related fields; 
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(g) Establish a standardized referral system for all geriatric health service; 
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(h) Provide higher and up-to-date geriatric training for professionals, 
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postgraduates, academics, and allied healthcare providers, especially 
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from the geriatric specialty centers; 
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(i) Conduct cutting-edge research studies on diseases related to old age for the 
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development of policies, protocols, standards, and solutions for 
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specialized health care; 
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(j) Publish research studies that shall serve as an information resource for the 
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medical and research community in coordination with concerned 
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government offices and relevant professional organizations; 
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(k) Conduct and participate in local and international gerontological research 
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activities; 
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(l) Conduct capacity and capability assessment of the services provided by the 
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NCGHRI; 
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(m) Provide consultancy service and technical assistance in the setting of 
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standards for geriatric wards in every tertiary level hospital, nursing 
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home, and residential center catering to the health needs of senior citizens, in 
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consultation with the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development 
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of the Department of Science and Technology, the Institute on Aging – National 
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Institutes of Health (IA-NIH) under the University of the Philippines, and other 
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relevant institutions as may be determined by the NCGHRI; 
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(n) Provide fellowship training in geriatric medicine; 
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(o) Develop and maintain a core information hub on geriatrics and gerontological 
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studies in coordination with the concerned offices of the 
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DOH and its attached agencies, the IA-NIH, and other relevant institutions as 
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may be determined by the NCGHRI; 
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(p) Identify and recommend to the DOH possible sites for the relocation of the 
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NCGHRI; and 
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(q) Study and recommend, in coordination with the Governance Commission for 
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Government-Owned and -Controlled Corporations, the appropriate steps for the 
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formal establishment and incorporation of the NCGHRI in accordance with 
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Republic Act No. 10149, otherwise known as the “GOCC Governance Act of 
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2011”: Provided, That the NCGHRI shall remain under the full control and 
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supervision of the DOH, unless Congress shall provide otherwise. 
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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 
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NCGHRI, 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 and other pertinent laws, 
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rules, and regulations. 
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SEC. 8. Categorization of Patients. – The NCGHRI shall enforce a categorization 
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of paying and non-paying patients and shall ensure the allocation of beds for indigent 
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patients in accordance with existing laws and guidelines. 
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SEC. 9. Coordination with and Assistance from Other Government Agencies. – 
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The NCGHRI shall coordinate with the National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC) 
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in the development of its programs and services. It may likewise call upon any 
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department, bureau, office, agency, or instrumentality of the government, such as the 
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Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming 
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Corporation, for assistance in the pursuit of the purposes and objectives of this Act. 
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The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) shall, in coordination with 
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the DOH and NCGHRI, provide technical assistance and capacity building in the 
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establishment and maintenance of nursing homes and residential care facilities and 
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senior citizens’ wards in government hospitals pursuant to Republic Act No. 9994, 
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otherwise known as the “Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010.” 
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The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) shall, in coordination with the DOH and 
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NCGHRI, provide education programs and scholarships to pursue excellence and the 
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highest level of quality in the practice of the specialized field of geriatrics and other 
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related fields, including postgraduate training and short-term courses for medical 
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doctors and other allied medical health professions, in coordination with public or private 
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training institutes such as the IA-NIH. The CHED shall also provide education programs 
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in geriatrics and gerontology subjects in undergraduate health and allied professions, 
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including training of students, as well as postgraduate medical education of physicians, 
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nurses, pharmacists, dentists, social workers, and allied professionals. 
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SEC. 10. Use of Income. – All income generated from the operations of the 
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NCGHRI shall be deposited in an authorized government depository bank and shall be 
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used to augment the funds for its maintenance, other operating expenses, and capital 
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outlay requirements, subject to the guidelines set by the DOH and the DBM. 
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SEC. 11. Tax Exemptions. – All donations, endowments, contributions, grants, 
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and bequests used actually, directly and exclusively for and in accordance with the 
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purposes and functions of the NCGHRI shall be exempt from donor’s tax, and the same 
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shall be considered as allowable deductions from gross income for purposes of 
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computing the taxable income of the donors, 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 the 
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provisions of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended, and Republic Act No. 
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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 Fiscal 
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Incentives Review Board, subject to the provisions of Title XIII (Tax Incentives) of the 
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National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended, Executive Order No. 93, as 
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amended, and the General Appropriations Act. 
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SEC. 12. 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, and 
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the House of Representatives Committee on Health on its activities, accomplishments, 
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and recommendations. 
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SEC. 13. Transitory Provisions. – To ensure the smooth transition towards the 
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full implementation of this Act, the following provisions shall apply: 
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(a) The buildings and equipment, fixtures and furnishings, other assets, and 
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liabilities of the DEMMNCGH may be absorbed by the NCGHRI; 
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(b) The current appropriations of the DEMMNCGH may be absorbed by the 
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NCGHRI, subject to the rules and regulations of the Commission on Audit; 
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(c) The existing officials and employees of DEMMNCGH shall continue to 
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assume the duties of their positions until new appointments are issued. They 
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shall be placed in the new staffing pattern of the NCGHRI in accordance with 
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Republic Act No. 6656, entitled “An Act to Protect the Security of Tenure of Civil 
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Service Officers and Employees in the Implementation of Government 
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Reorganization, and the rules and regulations governing reorganization. Officials 
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and employees, including casual and temporary employees, who may not be 
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absorbed in the new staffing pattern due to redundancy shall avail of the 
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applicable retirement benefits and separation incentives as provided under 
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existing laws: Provided, That officials and employees holding permanent 
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appointment shall also be given the option to be transferred to other units or 
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offices within the DOH without reduction 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 
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(e) Existing contracts and agreements entered into with third parties prior to the 
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enactment of this Act shall remain valid. 
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SEC. 14. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within ninety (90) days from 
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the effectivity of this Act, the DOH shall, in consultation with the DSWD, CHED, and the 
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NCSC, and other concerned agencies, promulgate the rules and regulations necessary 
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to carry out the provisions of this Act. 
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SEC. 15. Appropriations. – The amount necessary for the implementation of this 
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Act shall be charged against the current year’s appropriation of the DOH. Thereafter, 
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the funding of which shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act. 
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SEC. 16. Separability Clause. – If any part or provision of this Act is held invalid 
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or unconstitutional, the remaining parts or provisions not affected shall remain in full 
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force and effect. 
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SEC. 17. Repealing Clause. – All laws, decrees, orders, rules, and regulations, 
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and other issuances or parts thereof which are contrary to or inconsistent with this Act 
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are hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly. 
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Approved, 
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