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EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
Second Regular Session 
) 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
House Bill No. ____ 
Introduced by Representative Deogracias Victor B. Savellano 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING A NURSING HOME FOR THE ABANDONED AND NEGLECTED 
SENIOR CITIZENS, ESTABLISHING FOR THIS PURPOSE A NURSING HOME-
LIKE ENVIRONMENT IN EVERY PROVINCE IN THE PHILIPPINES, AND 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution provides integral primacy to the welfare of our senior citizens. 
Under Article XIII, Section 11, their (senior citizens) protection is assured. It states 
that "[t]he 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." 
To this addition, Article XV, Section 4 mandates that "[t]he family has the duty to 
care for its elderly members, but the State may also do so through just programs of 
social security." 
Living in multigenerational households and communities shape perceptions of aging 
as a responsibility, due to the establishment of family roles, adult engagement in the 
workforce, and family social ties1. However, some of our senior citizens were 
neglected by their family members mainly attributed to financial constraints. This 
unfortunate situation has urged this representation to file this measure that will seek 
to establish a nursing home-like environment in every province that will take good 
care of them.  
Our respect and care for the elderly has made us Filipinos be respected by many 
countries, especially from western nations. Time after time, we choose to take care 
of our elders themselves in their homes. Due to limitations, some families are not 
1 Valdez, P., Angeles, J. L., Pareja-Corpuz, E., & Hernandez, C. (2013). Perceptions towards aging among selected Filipino 
adults. International Journal of Research Studies in Psychology, 2, 89–96. doi:10.5861/ijrsp.2013.458 
April 20, 2021
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able to do it. And this is where the government can step in to preserve the strong 
familial ties of Filipino families. 
It is for this reason that the passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
DEOGRACIAS VICTOR B. SAVELLANO 


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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
House Bill No. ________ 
Introduced by DEOGRACIAS VICTOR B. SAVELLANO 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING A NURSING HOME FOR THE ABANDONED AND NEGLECTED 
SENIOR CITIZENS, ESTABLISHING FOR THIS PURPOSE A NURSING HOME-
LIKE ENVIRONMENT IN EVERY PROVINCE IN THE PHILIPPINES, AND 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
Section 1. Short Title. This Act shall be known as the “Nursing Home for Neglected 
and Abandoned Senior Citizens Act.” 
Sec. 2. Policy Statement. It shall be the policy of the State to ensure that the 
dignity of every person is valued by promoting full respect to human rights. Towards 
this end, the elderly citizens must be accorded of the necessary social security by 
extending them the assistance that will advance their welfare. 
Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. As used in this Act, the following terms shall mean: 
a. Abandoned and Neglected 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, regular residence,
or whose current residence is unfit for human habitation, or lacks resources to
obtain proper housing.
c. Nursing Home refers to a home for the aged, established and maintained
under this Act by each province 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.
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Sec. 4. Establishment of Nursing Homes. There shall be established in every 
province, a nursing home to serve neglected and abandoned senior citizens and 
homeless senior citizens, to be built by the local government units (LGU) 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 an 
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. Outreach to existing family for reintegration. 
i. Literacy education. 
j. Productivity development; and, 
k. 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, and 
other civil society organizations advancing the welfare of senior citizens to be 
identified by the DSWD, shall hereby promulgate the rules and regulations to carry 
out the provisions this Act not later than ninety (90) days after the effectivity of this 
Act. 
 
Sec. 7. 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. 8. 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. 9. 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 10. Effectivity.  - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or at least two (2) national papers of general 
circulation. 
 
Approved,