Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Batasan Hills, Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

8799

House Bill No." °*

Introduced by HON. LORD ALLAN JAY Q. VELASCO, HON. FERDINAND MARTIN G.
ROMUALDEZ, HON. PAOLO Z. DUTERTE, HON. RODANTE D. MARCOLETA,
HON. ERIC GO YAP, HON. RODOLFO “OMPONG” M. ORDANES, and
HON. MICHAEL L. ROMERO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

‘Article XIII, Section 11 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution states that the “State shall
adopt an integrated and comprehensive approach to health development which shall
‘endeavor to make essential goods, health and other social services available to all the
people at affordable cost.” Likewise, Article XV, Section 4 further declares that it is the duty
of the family to take care of its elderly members while the State may design programs of
social security for them."

The Philippines has reached what is considered. an ageing population. According to
the Population Commission, 8.2% of the total population is over 60 years old while 4.7% or
a total of 5 million Filipinos is aged 65 and older by the end of 2018. It is projected that the
percentage of elderly people (65 and above) in the country will most likely grow by 4.9% by
year 2020, 5.6% by year 2025, and 6.3% by year 2030.”

Part of the emergent trend of an ageing population and the rise of life expectancy is
the increase in the incidences of age-related communicable and non-communicable diseases
that require cumulative specialized medical attention, and, in relation, proves taxing in state

The 1867 Pippin Costin ofthe Repub of he Pines
"Carman of Poplaton and Development (POPCOM), 2078


health policies, ax shown in the study of the Global Health and Aging study conducted by
the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2011."

The common chronic age-related communicable diseases identified in the Philippines,

are hypertension, degenerative osteoarthritis, diabetes motitus, pulmonary tuberculosis,
osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, and pneumonia. Aside from common diseases,
geriatric syndromes or degenerative diseases such as dementia and Alzheimer's disease,
hearing impairment, malnutrition, depression, and Chronic Pain Syndrome, were identified in
the study conducted by Philippine General Hospital last 2005,

Morcover, the Philippine Statistics Authority reported that 22.1% of the elderly
Population aged 65 years old and above are disabled or are in need of increased medical
attention and care.* Nearly a third (31.4%) of older people is living in poverty, which greatly
diminishes their access to the highly specialized field of geriatric

medical care, *

Accessibility of the geriatric wards and specialty services still needs to be improved.
Survey conducted by Research and Performance Management of the DOH - Health Facility
Development Bureau showed high proportion of patients are senior citizen and low
compliance of the government hospitals to provide geriatric health services (Napulan, De
Roxas, et al., 2019).

Establishing @ national hospital specialized in geriatric health will ease the double
burden of addressing communicable and degenerative diseases, the rise in life expectancy
land the increase in the ageing population, hospital, whether government or private, and
‘community-based health care, should promote active and healthy ageing.

Furthermore, as found in research on specialized geriatric care, it will lower the
average length of hospital stay among elderly patients from 7.3 days to 6.7 days, minimize
hospital costs to around Fifty Thousand Pesos (PhP 50,000.00) per patient, and improve
overall care of our senior citizens.’

Finally, 2 hospital specialized in geriatric care can help bridge the persistent shortage
of geriatricians in the Philippines since it can become a training ground for doctors who seek

‘ida Heath and Aging, Wold Heath Organization, Naan on ln, (2011,
“Phipps States ator, "Pesans with Dab i the Pipes (based on 2010 census’, (7012),
‘Hip ee Gla! Netw, "eng pepulation Use Pipes”. pve again
"orto GovotrWods al Recesubity of Meath Seracs for Ser Given”, Napuan, Rederek Me Roxas, anne
Meloy, Feiian, Frckton A, Ope, Cale C, vod Reyes, Ady Geo A

fharne, et. al, Acute Care for tlder Units Produced Shorter Hospital Stays al Lower Cost while Maintaining
Patents Functional Status, (2012)



to pursue a specialization in geriatric health. It will also establish geriatric health as a viable
field of specialty and incentivize new and upcoming doctors to become geriatricans.

‘Thus, this bill seeks to make the country’s commitment to Universal Health Core
more genuinely felt by the elderly population and give our almost ten million senior citizens

the quality healthcare they rightfully deserve.

In view of this, the passage of the bill is earnestly sought.

HON. LORD ALLAN JAY Q. VELASCO
District Representative Marinduque, Lone District

Ho! LAVA G. ROMUALDEZ

First District Representative, Leyte

HON. PAQLO 2. DUTERTE
First District Repipsentative, Davao City

Party-List Representative, ACT-CIS


HON. RODOLFO “0! “” M. ORDANES,
Party-List Representative, Senior Citizens

HON. MICHAEL L. ROMERO., Ph.D.
Party-List Representative, 1-PACMAN


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Batasan Hills, Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

8799

House Bill No.

Introduced by HON. LORD ALLAN JAY Q. VELASCO, HON. FERDINAND MARTIN G.
ROMUALDEZ, HON. PAOLO 2. DUTERTE, HON. RODANTE D. MARCOLETA,
HON. ERIC GO YAP, HON. RODOLFO "OMPONG” M. ORDANES, and
HON. MICHAEL L. ROMERO

AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR GERIATRIC HEALTH UNDER
‘THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

BeitenactedbytheSenateandtheHouseofRepresentativesofthePhillppinesinCongress
assembled:

SECTION 1 ShortTitle. - This Act shall be known as “Francisco G. Datol, Jr. National Center
for Geriatric Health.”

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared a policy of the State to protect
and promote the right to health of the Filipino people and to instill health consciousness
‘among them. Towards this end, the State shall edopt an integrated and comprehensive
approach to health development. It shail ensure that quality health services are available
‘and accessible to them through the establishment of 2 specialized hospital that will cater to
their medical needs.


SECTION 3. /rancisco G. Datol, Jr. National Center for Geriatric Health (NCGH). ~ The:
Francisco G. Datol, Jr, National Center for Geriatric Health (NCGH) located in San Miguel,
Mania, is hereby established as a tertiary specialty hospital under the direct control and
supervision of the Department of Health for the benefit of the senior citizens and older

persons.

‘The bed capacity and service capabilites including its organizational structure and
staffing requirements shall be consistent with its hospital development plan.

SECTION 4. Purposes and Objectives The NCGH shall have the following purposes and
objectives:
8) Equip, maintain, administer, and operate an integrated medical institution which

shall specialize in geriatric health services;

b) Promote medical services to the elderly and scientific research/database relative
to the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, care, rehabilitation and relief of disease
of older persons;

©) Provide education and training of physicians, nurses, officers, social workers,
barangay health workers, and other medical and technical personnel in the
practice and scientific implementation of health services to older persons; and

4d) Coordinate the various efforts and activities of other government agencies and
Jocal government units for the purpose of achieving a more effective approach to
the delivery of geriatric health,

SECTION 5. Referral System. - The NCGH shall be the National Specialty Referral Center
for all private and government facilities for specialized geriatric care.

SECTION 6. Appropriations. - An amount of One Hundred Million Pesos (PhP
100,000,000,00) shall be appropriated for the establishment and initial operations of the
NCGH. Furthermore, The Secretary of Health shall immediately include in the Department's,
program the implementation of this Act, the funding of which shall be Included in the
subsequent Annual General Appropriations Act. Thereafter, the amount necessary for the
continued operation of the hospital, upgrading, and expansion of services shall be included
in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SECTION 7. Implementing Rules and Reguiations - The Department of Health shall, in
consultation and coordination with appropriate government agencies, such as Department of


Budget and Management, National Commission on Senior Giizens (NCSC), Civil Society
Organizations (CSOs), Non-Government Organizations (NGOs), and other stakeholders,
within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this Act, promulgate the Implementing Rules
‘and Regulations for the effective and efficient implementation of the provisions of this Act.

SECTION 8. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is held invalid or
unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity and effectivity of the other provisions
hereof.

SECTION 9. Repeating Clause. ~All existing laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and
regulations, or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed,
amended or modified accordingly.

SECTION 10. £ffectivity Cause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved.