Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEEN CONGRESS
FIRST REGULAR SESSION

HousEBLNO 4789

Introduced by Representative DAVID L. KHO and Representative GODOFREDO V. ARQUIZA

EXPLANATORY NOTE

AN ACT CREATING THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR SENIOR CITIZENS
AND AGING RESEARCH AND KNOWLEDGE DEVELOPMENT

In fess than 20 years, most of the world’s aging population will belong to the developing
world, with 60% belonging in Asia. The consequences of population aging will add challenges
to the Philippines’ health and socio-economic environment. The increase in human fife
expectancy is a result of successes in health technology (ex. vaccines, diagnostic tests, and
drugs), public and environmental health (ex. sanitation and reduction of maternal and child
mortality), political stability, food production and medical and rehabilitative care.

Since 1995, the total number of senior citizens (60 years and older) in the Philippines,
based on the 2000 Census of Population and Housing, has grown at an average annual rate of
4.39% placing the elderly population at seven million in 2010 (from 4.6 million in 2000,
accounting for 5.97% of the 2000 Philippine population) and expected to double in
approximately 16 years.

In order to enhance a national program of geriatric healthcare, consistent with
constitutional principle that the State shall “undertake appropriate health, manpower
development, and research, responsive to the country’s health needs and problems” and in
implementation of R.A. 9994 “ to train community-based health workers among senior citizens
and health personnel to specialize in the geriatric care and health probiems of senior cilizens”,
this bill aims to create a National Institute for Senior Citizens and Aging Research and
Knowledge Development that will contribute to national development and improvement of the
quality of life of senior citizens and ail Filipinos as they age.

The Institute shal] be at the foreftont of research (as it identifies and implements priority
researches on the aging population), technological development and innovation essential in
obtaining the societal goals of health for senior citizens.

The National Institute for Senior Citizens and Aging Research and Knowledge
Development shall form part of the National Institutes of Health (nine (9) institutes at present)
of the University of the Philippines Manila, the research arm of the Health Sciences Center of


the UP System, established to support the national effort to improve the health of Filipinos by
enhancing the country’s capability for health research and development.

The National Institutes of Health of the UP Manila has the capacity to carry out many of
the researches of the various government agencies and private sectors, including the
pharmaceutical industry, through its various linkages, for commissioned or collaborative
research, as it envisions itself to be the country’s recognized authority on health research and
development and be the key source of critical health information for national devetopment in the
Phitippines and Southeast Asia.

In view of the foregoing considerations, approval of this bill is earnestly sought.



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Quezon City

FIFTEEN CONGRESS
FIRST REGULAR SESSION

HousE BILL No, 478

eee
Introduced by Representative DAVID L. KHO aad Representative GODOFREDO V, ARQUIZA

AN ACT CREATING THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR SENIOR CITIZENS
AND AGING RESEARCH AND KNOWLEDGE DEVELOPMENT

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title - This Act shall be known as the “National Institute for Senior
Citizens and Aging Research and Knowledge Development Act of 2011.”

SEC 2. Declaration of Policy - Section 15, Articte {I of the 1987 Constitution Provides that:

“The State shall adopt an integrated and comprehensive approach to health development
which shall endeavour to make essential goods, health and other social services available
to all the people at affordable cost. There shall be priority for the needs of the
underprivileged, sick, elderly, disabled, women and children.” The Constitution also
Provides that the State shall “undertake appropriate health, manpower development, and
research, responsive to the country's health needs and problems.” ,

Corollary to the above, under Sec. 5{c) Health of R.A. 9994 (The Expanded Senior
Citizens Act of 2010), “The DOH, in coordination with local government units (LGUs),

shall provide an integrated health service for senior citizens, it shall tain

& g_senior citizens and _h personne
specialize in the geriatric care and health problems of senior citizens (underscoring

Further, senior citizens shall be empowered to achieve active ageing in a society for all
ages through social protection and the development of policies, programs, projects,
and services to promote their rights and welfare, implemented with or through LGUs,
NGOs, POs, national government agencies and other members of civil society,


SEC 3. Creation of the National Institute for Senior Citizens and Aging Research and
Kuowledge Development - The National Institute for Senior Citizens and Aging Research and
Knowledge Development, hereinafter referred to as the Institute on Aging, shall be established
that will identify and implement priority researches on the aging population, It shail be a venue
for knowledge development activities including evaluation, research and surveillance and the
dissemination of research findings wo be shared in clear language in accessible and practical
formats with policy makers, NGOs representing the elderly, the private sector and the public at
large. The Institute shall be at the forefront of research, technological development and
innovation essentiat in obtaining the societal goals of health and quality of life for Senior
tizens.

The Institute on Aging shall form part of the National Institutes of Health of the University of the
Philippines Manila, the research arm of the Health Sciences Center of the UP System,?
established to support the national effort to improve the health of Filipinos by enhancing the
country’s capability for health research and development, presently composed of nine (9)
instiuutes as follows:

Institute of Biotechnology and Molecular Biology
Institute of Child Health and Human Development
Institute of Clinical Epidemiology

Institute of Health Policy and Development Studies
Institute of Herbal Medicine

Institute of Human Genetics

Institute of Ophthalmology

Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Philippine National Ear Institute

SeANaeaepr

‘The manner of conducting research will mostly be collaborative and muttidisciplinary in nature
(not hierarchical but interdisciptinary), reflective of the various components nevessary to achieve
active and successful aging of older adults.

guidelines of the University. Extramural researches, as for example, researches whose primary
authors are not members of the University but seek collaboration with the Institute on Aging,
shalt also comply with the same guidelines, The University of the Philippines shall be the lead
agency to centralize, implement and do research guided by national agenda with the support of
the following, but not limited to, coordinating academic institutions/government agencies/NGOs
concemed:

«© Department of Science and Technology

o Food and Nutrition Research Institute

© Food and Drug Administration

9° National Academy of Science and Technology
¢ Department of Health
© Philippine College of Geriatric Medicine


* Medical Specialty Societies

* University of the Philippines System
© Population institute

School of Sociology

Dept of Psychology

College of Medicine

College of Law

© School of Economics

* Other Colleges and Universities

© Senior Citizens Organizations

0000

SEC 4. GOAL AND OBJECTIVES - The primary goal of the Institute on Aging shall be to
contribute to national development and improvement of the quality of life of Senior Citizens and
all Filipinos as they age, with the following set objectives:

1. Guide policy makers in the enactment of health laws, policies, and guidelines which
improve delivery of quality health programs for Senior Citizens.

2. Contribute to the enhancement of medical knowledge on aging and geriatrics and
improve the practices of health care professionals.

3. implement research on essential national health issues and concems on aging.
4. Lead in the formulation of national health research agenda on aging.
5. Disseminate information on bealthy and active aging to the general public.

SEC 5. TAX EXEMPTION AND OTHER PRIVILEGES — Consistent with constitutional
principles and the objectives of R.A. 9994 “to give full support to the improvement of the total
well-being of the elderly and their full participation in society x x x” and in recognition of the
role of the Institute on Aging on the improvement of the quality of life of Senior Citizens:

1. All donations, contributions, endowments and equipment and supplies imported by
the Institute for its actual use and benefit shall be exempt from tax of any nature ot
kind;

2. ‘The Institute shall be exempt from payment of taxes, charges and fees being imposed
by the government, its political subdivisions and instrumentalities, including local
government units for equipment purchased for its use; and

3. The Institute may request and receive assistance from the different agencies, bureaus,
offices or instrumentalities of the government, including the Philippine Charity
Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation
(PAGCOR), NGOs, private foundations, specialty societies, and international
funding.


SEC 6. APPROPRIATIONS — Funds shall be appropriated as contribution of the National
Government for the initial operations and maintenance of the Institute on Aging for the year
2011. Thereafter, the amount necessary for the continued operation and maintenance of the
Institute shall be duly provided for, appropriated and released from the National Budget.

SEC 7. IMPLEMENTING RULES AND REGULATIONS - The Instimte on Aging shall
promulgate, within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act, the Implementing Rules and

ions for the effective and efficient implementation of the provisions of this Act, in
consultation with all agencies/offices concemed.

SEC 8 SEPARABILITY CLAUSE ~ if any provision or part hereof, is held invalid or
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provisions not otherwise affected shall remain
valid and subsisting.

SEC 9. EFRECTIVITY CLAUSE - This Act shall take effect within fifteen (15) days after
publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,