NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE PHILIPPINES 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session
SENATE
s.B. NO, 2346
23 JUL25 AIMS
RHC£IV£0 BV
Introduced by Senator Francis "Tol" N. Tolentino
AN ACT
AMENDING SECTION FIVE (5) (C) OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7432f OTHERWISE 
KNOWN AS THE SENIOR CITIZENS ACT OF 1992 AS AMENDED, TO 
MANDATE AND FURTHER BROADEN THE SCOPE OF A GERIATRIC WARD, TO 
INCLUDE BOTH THE GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE HOSPITALS, 
INSTITUTIONS, INFIRMARIES, AND WELLNESS CENTERS
EXPLANATORY NOTE
According to the 2020 national census, there are a total of 9.22 Million senior citizens, 
or those people aged 60 years old and over. This constitutes 8.5% of the household 
population.1 Once a country reaches 14% senior citizens of its population, it is then 
considered as an aging society, to which the Philippines is expected to reach between 
2030 and 2035.2 With this growing elderly population, it Is important to strengthen 
and improve the existing policies crafted for the needs and welfare of our senior 
citizens.
Article XIII Section 11 of the 1987 Constitution provides that in adopting an integrated 
and comprehensive approach to health development, the State shall prioritize the 
needs of the underprivileged, sick, elderly, disabled, women, and children. Article XV 
Section 4 thereof further states 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 Expanded Senior Citizens' Act of 2010 has greatly improved the benefits and 
services for senior citizens. This shows that government and private efforts for elderly 
care are in place. However, the provision on the establishment of geriatric wards in 
government hospitals has not been fully implemented. In a study conducted by the 
Department of Health - Health Facility Development Bureau Research and
lhttps://psa.gov.ph/population-and-housing/node/167965
2https://psa.gov.ph/sites/defauIt/fiIes/8.3.1%20Profile%20of%20Geriatric%20Wards%20and%20Acces
sibility%20of%20HeaIth%20Services%20for%20Senior%20Citizens.pdf


Performance Management Division on the Geriatric Health Facility Program, the 
common reasons cited for the unavailability of Geriatric wards are the following:
Lack of available space for the geriatric ward;
Space constraint, senior citizens are admitted in general and private wards; 
Limited bed capacity, senior citizens are mixed with Internal Medicine patients; 
It is beyond the service capability of the hospital;
Lack of funds and resources;
Lack of geriatric specialists in the hospital; and 
Facilities think that they are not required to have one.3
With these reasons, the goal of providing readily available and accessible facilities for 
senior citizens are not met, and in reality add up to the increasing morbidity and 
mortality of our elderly citizens.
This bill seeks to provide our senior citizens a designated area, exclusive for them, in 
every government and private hospitals, institutions, infirmaries, and wellness centers 
throughout the country. This is to ensure that every senior citizen will be 
accommodated with utmost priority and be given the best possible healthcare services 
entitled to them.
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
FRAN
fTOL" N. TOLENTINO 
Senator
3https://psa.gov.ph/sites/default/files/8.3.1%20Profile%20of%20Geriatric%20Wards%20and%20Acces
sibility%20of%20Health%20Services%20for%20Senior%20Citizens.pdf


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE PHILIPPINES 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session
SENATE
S.B. no.2346
of t!jf
23 JUL 25 .All -A
RtCEIVED BV.
Introduced by Senator Francis "Tol" N. Tolentino
AN ACT
AMENDING SECTION FIVE (5) (C) OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7432 OTHERWISE 
KNOWN AS THE SENIOR CITIZENS ACT OF 1992 AS AMENDED, TO 
MANDATE AND FURTHER BROADEN THE SCOPE OF A GERIATRIC WARD, TO 
INCLUDE BOTH THE GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE HOSPITALS, 
INSTITUTIONS, INFIRMARIES, AND WELLNESS CENTERS
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
1 
Section 1. Section 5 (c) of Republic Act No. 9994, otherwise known as the
2 
"Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010", is hereby amended to read as follows:
3 
"SECTION 5. Government Assistance. The government shall provide the
4 
following:
5 
a. 
XXX
6 
b. 
XXX
7 
c. 
Health
8 
"The DOH, in coordination with local government units (LGUs), NGOs and POs
9 
for senior citizens, shall institute a national health program and shall provide
10 
an integrated health service for senior citizens. It shall train community-based
11 
health workers among senior citizens and health personnel to specialize in the
12 
geriatric care and health problems of senior citizens.
XXX
13 
"Throughout the country, there shall be established a "senior citizens' ward" in
14 
every government AND PRIVATE HOSPITALS, INSTITUTIONS,
15 
INFIRMARIES, AND WELLNESS CENTERS. This geriatric ward shall be for


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
the exclusive use of senior citizens who are in need of [hospital}
OBSERVATION, MONITORING, OR CONFINEMENT IN ANY 
GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE HOSPITALS, INSTITUTIONS, 
INFIRMARIES, AND WELLNESS CENTERS, by reason of their health 
conditions AND WELLNESS MAINTENANCE. However, when urgency of 
public necessity purposes so require, such geriatric ward may TEMPORARILY 
be used for emergency purposes, PROVIDED THAT SENIOR CITIZENS 
WILL STILL BE PRIORITIZED AND BE SECURELY PLACED IN A SAFE 
AREA, after [which] THE PASSING OF THE EMERGENCY SITUATION, 
such "senior citizens' ward" shall be reverted to its ORIGINAL nature as AN 
EXCLUSIVE geriatric ward.
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
"UPON THE EFFECTIVITY OF THIS ACT, PRIVATE ENTITIES THAT 
WILL MAINTAIN AN EXCLUSIVE AND FUNCTIONING SENIOR 
CITIZENS' WARD, WHICH WILL ADMIT AND CATER TO SENIOR 
CITIZENS AS THEIR PATIENTS, SHALL BE ENTITLED TO AN 
ADDITIONAL DEDUCTION FROM THEIR GROSS INCOME, 
EQUIVALENT TO FIFTEEN PERCENT (15%) OF THE TOTAL AMOUNT 
PAID FOR THE CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE OF THE SAID 
GERIATRIC WARD; PROVIDED, THAT THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF THE 
CLAIMED TAX DEDUCTION NET OF VALUE ADDED TAX, IF 
APPLICABLE, SHALL BE INCLUDED IN THEIR GROSS SALES RECEIPTS 
FOR TAX PURPOSES AND SHALL BE SUBJECT TO PROPER 
DOCUMENTATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE 
NATIONAL INTERNAL REVENUE CODE (NIRC), AS AMENDED.
XXX
25 
Section 2. Separability Clause. Should any part or provision of this Act be
26 
held unconstitutional or invalid, the parts or provisions not affected thereby shall
27 
continue to have full force and effect.
28 
Section 3. Repealing Clause. All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and
29 
regulations, issuances, or any part thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act
30 
are hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.
31 
Section 4. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days
32 
following its complete publication in the Official Gazette ov in the newspaper of general
33 
circulation
Approved,