Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Ses

HOUSE BILL Ni

Introduced by Representative Ivan Howard Guintu

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Section 11, Article XIII of the 1987 Constitution provides 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. There shall be priority for the needs of the underprivileged,
sick, elderly, disabled, women, and children. ‘The State shall endeavor to provide free
medical care to paupers.

Section 4, Article XV of the 1987 Constitution provides that “the family has the
duty to care for its elderly members but the State may also do so through just programs
of social security.

The State values the health and welfare of its elderly citizens.

While Filipino family generally takes care of each and every family member,
there are cases where the elderly are abandoned and have become homele: such
instances, the State must step in to ensure that its senior citizens are given The
proposed bill seeks to establish government-run nursing homes that will care for the
abandoned and homeless elderly population.

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

Representatiy€, Pinuno Partylist


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City. Metro Manila

NINETEENTH CON
rst Regular

HOUSE BILL NO. 1148

Introduced by Representative Ivan Howard Guintu

AN ACT
; ANURSING HOME FOR HOMELESS AND ABANDONE
SENIOR CITIZENS IN EVERY CITY OR MUNICIPALITY IN THE PHILIPPE
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSE!

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. his Act shall be known as the “Homes for Abandoned
Seniors Act.”

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - \t 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

nior citizens through a social care and security program,

SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. As used in this Act

(a) Abandoned Senior Citizen refers to a senior citizen who has been deserted,
permanently or temporarily, by his relatives or persons who have general or legal
responsibility over the senior citizen, and/or from whom all basic care has been
withdrawn, whether willfully or not:

(b) Homeless Senior Citizen refers to a senior who lacks a fixed,
whose current residence is unfit for human habitation, or lacks resources to obtain

swular residence, or

proper housing:

(c) Nursing Home cefers to a home for the aged, established and maintained under this,
Act by a city or municipality which provides living accommodations, food and


clothing, medical and health care, and recreational and social interaction activities for
abandoned senior citizens or homeless senior citizens; and

(d) Senior Citizen refers to any resident citizen of the Philippines at least sixty (60) years
of age.

SEC. 4. Establishment of Nursing Homes, - There shall be established in every
municipality and city, a nursing home to serve abandoned senior citizens and homeless senior
citizens, to be built by the local government units (LGUs) concerned and shall be operated and
maintained by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in coordination
with the LGUs concerned

SEC. 5. Functions of Nursing Homes. - The nursing homes shall provide homeless
senior citizens or abandoned senior citizens within its territorial jurisdiction institutionalized
residential care programs and services such as but not limited to:

(a) Comfortable living quarters:
(b) Adequate food and clothing:

(c) Medical consultation or treatment,

(d) Health care,

(e) Occupational opportunities;

(f) Recreational and social interaction activities;
(g) Counseling;

(h) Case conference;

(i) Family dialogue;

(j) Outreach to existing family for reintegration;
(k) Literacy education:

(1) Productivity development; and
(m)Religious, cultural and vocational activities

SEC. 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). — The DSWD, in coordination
with the Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Health and the
Federation of Senior Citizens Associations of the Philippines, and 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
tually, directly, and exclusively by the nursing home pursuant

equipment and supplies used a
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. for any reason, any section, subsection, clause or term
of this Act is held invalid or unconstitutional, such parts not affected by such declaration shall
remain in full force and effect.

SEC. 10. Repealing Clause, ~ All existing laws, orders, decrees, rules and regulations,
or parts thereof, inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby amended, modified or
repealed accordingly.

SEC. 11. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in
the Official Gazeue or in a newspaper of general circulation

Approved,