Republic of the Philippines i
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES lite 202 ©

Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

H.No.__3710

Introduced by Representative Estrellita “Ging” B. Suansing

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Global Age Watch Index revealed that the Philippines ranked 7" among
21 Asian countries as the best country for older people. The country also ranked 44"
out of 91 countries worldwide. Sweden topped the list worldwide while Japan ranked
first in Asia. (Source: http://ph.news, yahoo.com; viewed on December 16, 2013)

The index is said to be the first ever tool to measure the quality of life and
well-being of older people around the world.

The 1987 Philippine Constitution, as the highest law of the land also
provides the following provisions for senior citizens, to wit;

“Article Il - Declaration of Principles and State Policies

“Section 10. The State Shall Promote Social Justice in All
Phases of National Development.

“Section 11. The State Values the Dignity of Every Human
Person and Guarantees Full Respect for Human Rights.

XXX 100K XxX
“Article Xill - Social Justice and Human Rights

“Section 11. 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.

XXX 1X Xxx
“Article XV - The Family

“Section 4. The family has the duty to care for its elderly
members but the State may also do so through just programs of
social security.”

bee 2K Xxx”

In view thereof, the State should engage in a more vigorous role in protecting
preserving and even improving the welfare of senior citizens in the country. Such is
also in line with the Filipinos’ age-old custom of revering our elderly relatives up to
the end of their days. Be that as it may, improving the living conditions of the elderly
will translate ipso facto in the improvement of the living conditions of the other
classes in our country.

In the province of Nueva Ecija, a considerable number of senior citizens are
hard-pressed already as they were due to the standard of living in the province. This
was aggravated further by calamities such as typhoon Santi which hit Central Luzon
in October, causing damage in the amount of more than P3 billion on two provinces
alone, including Nueva Ecija; essentially obliterating a good part of the so-called ‘rico
granary’ of the Philippines.

This bill seeks to provide adequate and effective social services to all
members of society especially senior citizens so they may live prosperously and
enjoy the fruits of their labor. For this purpose, the State undertakes to establish,
initiate, and support programs, including endeavors, aimed at promoting and
advancing the social and economic well-being of senior citizens.

Moreover, the bill aims to establish a national long-term care program for
senior citizens that embodies programs and services relating to the following;
1) Social protection
2) Senior citizens and development
3) Advancing health and well-being
4) Enabling and supportive environment


If enacted into law, the bill will reduce poverty and vulnerability to risks of
senior citizens, as well as enhance their social status and rights; promoting and
protecting them also against hazards and sudden loss of income, thereby improving

the capacity to manage risk.

In view of the foregoing, passage of this bill is earnestly requested,

Rep. ESTRELLITA “GING” B. SUANSING
4* District, Nueva Ecija


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

H.Bill No._3710

Introduced by Representative Estrellita “Ging” B. Suansing

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING AND INSTITUTIONALIZING LONG-TERM CARE FOR SENIOR
CITIZENS, PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

SECTION 1. Title. This Act shall be known as "The Long-Term Care for
Senior Citizens Act of 2013"

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policies. The State recognizes the invaluable
contribution of senior citizens to the national development program. Accordingly, it is
hereby declared the policy of the State to provide adequate and effective social
services to all members of society especially senior citizens so they may live
prosperously and enjoy the fruits of their labor, For this purpose, the State
undertakes to establish, initiate, and support programs, including endeavors, aimed
at promoting and advancing the social and economic well-being of senior citizens.

SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. For purposes of this Act, the following terms
shall be construed to mean as follows:

a. Senior citizen refers to any person as defined in Section 3 of
Republic Act No. 7876, otherwise known as the Senior Citizen Center
Act.

b. Long-term care refers to a sustained provision of
comprehensive programs and services to senior citizens with the view of
enabling them to have dignified, healthy, and secured lives.

c. Dependent senior citizen refers to those persons who are frail,
sickly, suffering from any disability, or have no other means to support
their individual basic needs.


SEC. 4. National Long-term Care Program Framework. A national long-
term care program for senior citizens is hereby established, which shall embody the
following core programs and services, among others:

a. Social Protection. This shall cover programs that seek to
reduce poverty and vulnerability to risks and enhance the social status
and rights of senior citizens by promoting and protecting them against
hazards and sudden loss of income and improving senior citizens’
capacity to manage risk

a.1. Social Welfare. Curative and preventive interventions
that seek to support the special needs of Senior Citizens and to
reduce risks associated with old age shall be provided. These
shall include activities aimed at protecting senior citizens from
abuse, exploitation and discrimination. Moreover, prevention and
provision of support services against physical, emotional and
financial abuse, sexual exploitation, neglect and abandonment of
senior citizens shall be established within the family and at the
community level. Towards this end, trainings and awareness
campaigns shall be initiated to raise the public's awareness of the
problems confronting senior citizens and to equip the public with
the necessary know-how to prevent and detection problem areas
concerning senior citizens.

a.2. Livelihood Job Generation Program. Senior citizens
shall be specifically targeted in livelihood programs and other
poverty alleviation programs. Further, livelihood programs shall
guarantee a minimum income and shall be designed in a manner
that increases senior citizens’ productivity.

a.3. Social Insurance. Existing social insurance programs
shall be modified and expanded to guarantee that senior citizens
shall be adequately protected from loss of income and
unemployment as a result of old age. Economic and financial
support through other innovative social insurance and pension
schemes especially designed for families caring for
dependents/disabled senior citizens shall likewise be endeavored.

a.4. Social Safety Nets. Stop-gap mechanisms or urgent
and immediate responses shall be instituted to shield senior
citizens from vulnerabilities arising from disasters, emergency and
displacement due to development projects, natural and man-
made calamities.

b. Senior Citizens and Development. This shall include
mainstreaming activities such as lifelong, education programs for aging
preparation and non-formal education at the local level for those sixty
(60) years old and above and development of programs which will allow
senior citizens to remain actively engaged in as many social, economic
and community activities as possible.

2


c. Advancing Health and Well-being. An integrated and
innovative elderly-focused health and social services shall be made
available at the local level. Particular emphasis shall be made on
disease prevention, health promotion and wellness of mind, body and
spirit. Health services shall comprise preventive, curative and
rehabilitative health care services in all government and_ private
hospitals, local health facilities and other community-based facilities. The
said program shall contemplate the following, among others:

c.1. Homecare and hospice for the frail and dependent
elderly and medical and psychological support for patients
requiring continued medical assistance after discharge.

¢.2. Development and provision of geriatric training at the
family and community level.

c.3. Mandatory PHILHEALTH coverage for non-
contributory senior citizens especially the poor.

d. Enabling and Supportive Environment, Provision of home
nursing for the elderly, facilities for respite care, programs on counseling,
professional guidance and emotional support and low-cost, community-
based activities integrated into existing community health programs as
well as strengthening of inter-generational relationships.

Nothing above prevents the agencies tasked to implement the provisions of
this Act from introducing other social services and programs designed to promote
the National Long-Term Care Program for senior citizens.

SEC. 5. Implementing Agencies. The National Long-Term Care Program for
Senior Citizens shall be implemented jointly by the Department of Finance,
Department of Health, Department of Interior and Local Government, the
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and the various local
government units. The National Inter Agency Monitoring Board created under
Republic Act No. 9257, otherwise known as the Expanded Senior Citizens Act, shall
take the lead in monitoring the implementation of this Act

SEC. 6. Appropriation. The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of
this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act of the year
following its enactment into law and thereafter the local government units shall
undertake the maintenance of the institutions established under this Act.

SEC. 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. Within ninety (90) days from
the effectivity of this Act, the Department of Social Welfare and Development, after
due consultations with the other implementing agencies, shall promulgate rules and
regulations necessary for the orderly implementation of this Act.

SEC. 8. Separability Clause. \f any provision of this Act is declared
unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions not affected thereby shall continue to
be in full force and effect.


SEC. 9. Repealing Clause. All laws, decrees, rules and regulations or parts
thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed, modified, or amended
accordingly.

SEC. 10. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
complete publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of
general circulation.

Approved,