Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. 2585 
Introduced by HON. JORGE DANIEL S. BOCOBO 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Our grandparents are the foundation on which our lives are built. They have left an indelible 
mark on our history and have shaped who we are today. It is important to honor and pay tribute 
to our beloved grandparents, as they have paved the way for us and passed down their 
wisdom through the generations. 
In Isaiah 46:4, the Bible teaches us to respect and honor our elders, as God Himself offers 
them assurance and comfort: “Even to your old age and gray hairs, I am He, I am He who will 
sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.” This 
verse reminds us that just as God remains faithful to the elderly, we too, His people, are called 
to care for and treat them with highest reverence and with dignity and love. 
In our country, more than the Constitutional duty of every family to care for its elders, the 
responsibility is deeply rooted into the very being of every Filipino. Our history shows that 
ancient Filipinos held the elderly in high regard. We take pride in our long ingrained value of 
caring for one another, especially for our lolos and lolas. On a much larger scale, the State 
has the responsibility to prioritize the needs of the elderly, and underprivileged in the provision 
of social services. 
According to the World Health Organization, 1 in 6 people in the world will be aged 60 years 
or older by 2030. The global population in this age group is projected to grow from 1 billion in 
2020 to 1.4 billion by 2030. Meanwhile, the population of those aged 80 and older is anticipated 
to triple— rising to around 426 million.1  
Population ageing can be seen as one of the most outstanding achievements of humanity. 
However, the lack of institutional care in the Philippines means that family members often care 
for older Filipinos at home.2 
People aged 60 years old and over are considered senior citizens in the Philippines. According 
to the Commission on Population and Development (CPD), the country’s demographic can be 
considered an ‘aging population’ by 20303. In 2020, seniors made up 8.5% of the population 
1 World Health Organization. (2024, October 1). Ageing and health. Retrieved from: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-
sheets/detail/ageing-and-health 
2 Cruz, G., Cruz, C. & Saito, Y. (2019). Ageing and Health in The Philippines. Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East 
Asia 
and 
Demographic 
Research 
and 
Development 
Foundation, 
Inc. 
Retrieved 
from: 
https://www.eria.org/uploads/media/Books/2019-Dec-Ageing-and-Health-Philippines/Ageing-and-Health-Philippines-full-report--
0208.pdf
3 Villanueva, R. (2024, January 9). Philippines may have aging population by 2030 – CPD. The Philippine Star. Retrieved from:
https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2024/01/09/2324420/philippines-may-have-aging-population-2030-cpd 
July 30, 2025
9:06 am


(9.2 million), nearly double the 4.5 million recorded in 2000 (5.9%).4 An increase in the ageing 
population would mean a corresponding increase in the demand for care of this sector,5 
specifically health care services. Hence, the pressing need to take care of our elderly 
population.  
Recognizing this growing demand, the national government has steadily increased its support 
for the elderly. For fiscal year 2025, a total of Php49.8 billion has been allocated under the 
Social Pension for Indigent Senior Citizens Program, which now provides a Php 1,000 monthly 
stipend to over 4 million indigent seniors.6,7 However, while this financial assistance addresses 
daily subsistence, it does not respond to the equally critical need for safe, dedicated living 
spaces and long-term care facilities for senior citizens—especially those who are abandoned, 
homeless, or without family support.  
Meanwhile, the National Commission of Senior Citizens has already begun establishing the 
“Senior Citizens Community Care Center (SC3C)” in the Philippines, a one-stop hub for 
Filipinos aged 60 and above, offering health care, wellness programs, social and recreational 
activities, livelihood training, and access to government services.8 These efforts show a 
growing recognition of the needs of our aging population and reflect the State’s willingness to 
invest in programs that support their welfare. 
Still, even before the proliferation of SC3C, the City of Taguig as a model city for combining 
economic growth with malasakit and strong values for the elderly, had successfully launched 
the “Center for the Elderly”, a disabled-friendly, five-story facility, designed for senior citizens 
with low-risk, less serious or uncomplicated cases. The Center offers accessible health 
services, recreation, wellness and leisure facilities, including a medical clinic, therapy pool, a 
fully-equipped gym, a yoga room, a ballroom, saunas, a spa with massage chairs, a movie 
theatre, a rooftop garden, activity area with board games and reading materials, outdoor 
exercise equipment, and more–promoting holistic care and dignity for the elderly.  
 The care for older Filipinos is guaranteed by the fundamental law of the land. The 1987 
Philippine Constitution ensures the promotion and protection of the rights and welfare of 
Filipino senior citizens as a minority population sector. This bill seeks to establish this State 
policy to create a Center for the Elderly in every city or municipality that is especially dedicated 
to the overall well-being of our beloved lolos and lolas. It aims to provide accessible eldercare 
services in every locality in order to address the overall needs of an ageing population. The 
Center shall include within its facilities a Co-Working and Community Engagement Space 
dedicated to providing an inclusive environment where elderlies or senior citizens can freely 
exchange ideas, work alone or with other elder groups, and participate in discussions relevant 
to their sector.  
With the introduction of the City of Taguig’s Center for Elderly as a model, the national 
government’s agenda to promote inclusivity, fairness, and good governance will further be 
advanced. 
4 Commission on Population and Development. (2022, August 15). Filipino children’s population declined in last 20 years:
While seniors comprise 8.5% of PHL population as of 2020. POPCOM. Retrieved from: https://cpd.gov.ph/popcom-filipino-
childrens-population-declined-in-last-20-years-while-seniors-comprise-8-5-of-phl-population-as-of-2020/ 
5 Supra Note 3.
6 Republic of the Philippines. (2025). General Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2025 (Vol. 120, No. 53, p. 238). Official
Gazette. Retrieved from: https://www.dbm.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/GAA/GAA2025/VolumeIB/DSWD/DSWD.pdf 
7 Department of Budget and Management. (2024). Social Pension for Indigent Senior Citizens to get P49.8 billion budget in
2025; Expanded Centenarians Act to get over P3 billion [Press release]. Retrieved from: 
https://www.dbm.gov.ph/index.php/management-2/2941-dbm-social-pension-for-indigent-senior-citizens-to-get-p49-8-billion-
budget-in-2025-expanded-centenarians-act-to-get-over-p3-billion 
8 Retrieved from: https://www.ncsc.gov.ph/sc3c 


For these reasons, the swift passage of the foregoing measure is earnestly sought. 
JORGE DANIEL S. BOCOBO 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO.  2585 
Introduced by HON. JORGE DANIEL BOCOBO 
AN ACT  
ESTABLISHING CENTERS FOR ELDERLY IN ALL CITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES, 
PROVIDING MINIMUM STANDARDS, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR 
OTHER PURPOSES 
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 “Center for the Elderly in All Cities 
and Municipalities Act.” 
SECTION 2 Statement of Policy. – It is the policy of the State to prioritize the elderly in the 
adoption of an integrated and comprehensive approach to health and social development 
which endeavors to make essential goods, health and other social services available to all the 
people at affordable cost. The State likewise recognizes the vital role of the elderly in 
preserving cultural heritage, strengthening family and community ties, and shaping national 
identity. It shall therefore ensure that programs and policies are responsive to their evolving 
needs and uphold their right to a safe, supportive, and empowered life in their later years. 
A whole-of-community approach shall be adopted to promote the well-being of elders through 
coordinated action by local government units, civil society, the private sector, and the families 
and communities to which they belong. The State shall foster collaboration among relevant 
stakeholders to ensure that the elderly receive continuous care, support, and opportunities for 
meaningful engagement in social, cultural, and civic life. 
Towards this end, the State shall establish Centers for the Elderly in every city and 
municipality, which shall serve as dedicated, age-friendly facilities that provide accessible 
health care, wellness services, and recreational activities. These Centers shall also serve as 
venues for delivering social protection programs, enhancing social inclusion, and promoting 
the overall quality of life of senior citizens. 
SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. – As used in this Act, the following terms shall be defined 
as follows: 
a.
“Eldercare” shall mean the provision of primary health services that especially
caters to the needs of senior citizens. 
b.
“Elderly” or “senior citizen” shall mean a resident citizen at least sixty (60) years
of age, as defined under Republic Act (R.A.) No. 9994 otherwise known as the “Expanded 
Senior Citizens Act of 2010;” 
c.
“Less severe illness” shall mean a health problem, issue, or condition that does
not carry a high risk of mortality and does not negatively impact the life and daily function of 
an individual; 


d. 
“Office for Senior Citizen Affairs” or “OSCA” shall mean the office established 
by R.A. No. 7432 otherwise known as the “Senior Citizens Act”, as amended by R.A. No. 9994; 
e. 
“Primary health services” or “primary health care” shall mean the initial contact 
of an individual with an accessible and coordinated health system to manage health problems 
or issues that are less severe or uncomplicated, including, but not limited to the following: (i) 
Diagnosis and treatment of health problems; (ii) Prevention of health problems; (iii) Early 
intervention; and (iv) Managing ongoing and long-term conditions. 
 
SECTION 4. Establishment of Local Centers for the Elderly (LCEs). – The Department of 
Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in collaboration with local government units (LGUs), 
shall initially establish and maintain at least one (1)  LCE in all cities and municipalities: 
Provided, That in cities and municipalities requiring the establishment of such CEs shall be 
established based on the multi-year roadmap, or as resources may allow.  
 
The LGUs and private organizations may establish satellite LCEs and/or additional facilities 
needed for the eldercare and protection of the senior citizens in the community, in coordination 
with the LCEs. 
 
SECTION 5. Special Committee on Local Centers for the Elderly (SC-LCE). – For 
purposes of program and policy integration, there is hereby created a Special Committee on 
Centers for the Elderly to be composed of the following: 
a. 
Secretary of the Department of Health (DOH), as Chairperson; 
b. 
Secretary of the DSWD, as Vice Chairperson; 
c. 
Secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), as 
Member; 
d. 
Secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), as 
Member;  
e. 
National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC) Chairperson, as Member; and, 
f. 
One representative of the private sector who is a senior citizen to be appointed 
by the President, as Member. 
 
The Committee shall ensure that relevant government agencies shall establish at least one 
(1) Center for Elderly in every city and municipality especially dedicated to provide eldercare, 
recreational activities, social services, and assistance to senior citizens: Provided, That the 
SC-LCE shall provide non-monetary incentives, such as seal of excellence awards scheme to 
LGUs and other agencies and organizations to encourage the establishment and maintenance 
of better LCE services and facilities. 
 
The establishment shall be a wellness hub with health services, with the following minimum 
standards: 
a. 
A sufficient number of qualified staff shall be on duty at all times to render 
appropriate services in the Center; 
b. 
Facilities, rooms, and spaces which are accessible, especially to the elderly and 
Persons with Disability, and with appropriate signage; 
c. 
Basic health and recreational facilities which are appropriate for the elderly, 
including adequate space for indoor activities, and, as far as practicable, open 
spaces and garden area for outdoor activities; 
d. 
Appropriate health facilities for elderly needing medical attention and for use for 
medical consultation and geriatric care services; 
e. 
Basic utility, such as water and electricity;  
f. 
Referral system within the Center, including coordination for ambulance and 
emergency transport services, subject to availability and feasibility;  
g. 
Dedicated pharmacy that can facilitate the application of the mandated 20% 
senior citizen discount; 


h. 
A designated fund or mechanism to support emergency care needs of senior 
citizens; 
i. 
Establishment of partnerships with hospitals for referral and coordinated care; 
and 
j. 
Senior Citizen Data and information management system that shall contain, 
store, and secure the health and other relevant data of the elderly, in accordance 
with the provisions of the R.A. 10173, otherwise known as the “Data Privacy Act 
of 2012.”. 
 
The DSWD, consistent with the Republic Act (R.A.) No. 9994 otherwise known as the 
“Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010,” and the DOH, consistent with the national health 
program for senior citizens, shall issue joint guidelines with the other agencies for the proper 
implementation of this Act, and shall provide assistance to LGUs in setting up the LCEs.  
 
Medical services provided within the LCEs and their providers shall be accredited by the 
Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth). 
 
The SC-LCE shall regularly convene at least twice every year. The SC-LCE Chairperson may 
call a special meeting whenever necessary: Provided, That members are notified in writing at 
least three (3) days prior to the said meeting. 
 
SECTION 6. Co-Working and Community Engagement Spaces. Each LCE shall include 
within its facilities a Co-Working and Community Engagement Space dedicated to providing 
an inclusive environment where elderlies or senior citizens can freely exchange ideas, work 
alone or with other elder groups, and participate in discussions relevant to their sector. The 
space shall be equipped with basic office tools, internet access, and other materials and 
equipment conducive to continued productivity. 
 
SECTION 7. Role of the Office of the Senior Citizen Affairs (OSCA). – The OSCA 
established in every city or municipality shall act as a liaison and referral office.  It will also 
serve as the primary body to handle referrals in case there is a necessity for medical attention 
to a senior citizen.  
 
It shall likewise make available a list of health and social services offered in respective LCEs. 
 
SECTION 8. Staffing. – All LCEs established under this Act shall have four staff groups on a 
daily, rotational basis, comprising of at least one doctor, one nurse, and two trained barangay 
health workers. 
 
The LGU concerned shall hire all LCEs staff as job order, casual, contractual, or regular 
employees. Barangay health workers currently serving the city or municipality shall be given 
preference in the hiring under this Act. 
 
SECTION 9. Services. – All LCEs established under this Act shall be equipped with at least 
the most basic facilities that can cater to less severe, uncomplicated, and/or out-patient 
medical services, reliable financial assistance, social services, and worthwhile recreational 
activities.  
 
SECTION 10. Tax Exemptions of the LCEs. – The Center shall be exempted from the 
payment of customs duties, taxes and tariffs on the importation of equipment and supplies 
used actually, directly, and exclusively by the Center pursuant to this Act, including those 
donated to the LCE. 
 


SECTION 11. Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). – Within 60 days upon the 
approval of this Act, the DOH, in coordination with the DSWD,  DPWH, and the DILG, shall 
prepare and issue such rules and regulations necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act. 
 
Thereafter, the DPWH shall ensure the commencement of the establishment of LCEs within 
the fiscal year after appropriating the corresponding budget. 
 
SECTION 12. Appropriations. – The amount necessary for the implementation of this Act 
shall be charged against those authorized in the current appropriations of the DOH, DSWD, 
DPWH and other implementing partner agencies as provided in this Act. Thereafter, the 
amount necessary for its continued implementation shall be included in their respective 
budgetary allocations as separate line items in the annual General Appropriations Act. 
 
SECTION 13. Separability Clause. – If any part or provision of this Act is declared invalid or 
unconstitutional, the other parts hereof not affected thereby shall remain valid.  
 
SECTION 14. Repealing Clause. – All laws, acts, presidential decrees, executive orders, 
administrative orders, rules and regulations inconsistent with or contrary to the provisions of 
this Act are deemed amended, modified or repealed accordingly.  
 
SECTION 15. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in 
the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.  
 
 
Approved,