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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 6126

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE ALFRED VARGAS

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Alzheimer’s disease is a degenerative brain disease of unknown cause that results
in progressive memory loss, impaired thinking, disorientation, and changes in personality
and behavior, all of which lead to deterioration of cognitive, emotional, and physical
function. It is the most common form of dementia’ as it accounts for 60 to 80 percent of
dementia cases. The symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease usually develop slowly and get
worse overtime, becoming severe enough to interfere with daily tasks. It has no current
cure: available treatments for the disease can only slow the worsening of symptoms
temporarily.

The heavy responsibility of giving care for patients with Alzheimer’s disease falls
primarily on their families. The impact of Alzheimer’s disease on the patients’ families can
be physical, psychological, social, and economic, thus making it overwhelming not only for
the patients who have it but also for their carers.

Thus, this bill seeks to improve treatment services for Alzheimer’s patients and
expand training and support services for their families and caregivers by authorizing the
Secretary of Health to award grants to public and non-profit private health care providers.

Our country’s Constitution provides that “the State shall protect and promote the
right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among them.” When enacted,
this initiative will offer a deeper awareness and understanding of Alzheimer’s disease and
will therefore remove the stigmatization and barriers to its diagnosis and care.

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

FRED VAR

* For the purposes of this proposed legislation, dementia is defined as a general term for a decline in mental
ability severe enough to interfere with daily life. [http://www.alz.org/what-is-dementia.2sp]


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Philippines

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 6126

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE ALFRED VARGAS

AN ACT
AUTHORIZING THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH TO AWARD GRANTS FOR TRAINING
AND SUPPORT SERVICES FOR ALZHEIMER'S PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Alzheimer’s Caregiver
Support Act”.

SECTION 2. Grants Regarding Training and Support Services for Alzheimer’s
Patients and their Families. -

(a) __ In General, - The Secretary of Health may award grants to public and non-
profit private health care providers for the purpose of expanding training and support

services for families and caregivers of patients with Alzheimer’s disease.

(b) Recipients of Grants. - The public and non-profit private health care
providers to whom grants may be made include health care organizations, community
health centers, nursing homes, senior centers, community-based organizations, and

national government and local health agencies and social service agencies.

SECTION 3. Conditions for Grant. -

(a) __ Integration of Treatment, Training, and Support Services. - The recipient
must agree to employ a comprehensive approach to Alzheimer’s care that integrates
treatment of patients with Alzheimer’s disease with training and support services for the

patients’ families and caregivers.

(b) Appropriate Cultural Context. - The recipient must agree that in any program
to be funded by such grant, services will be provided in the dialects or languages most


appropriate for, and with consideration for the cultural backgrounds of the individuals for

whom the services are provided.

(©) Outreach Services. - The recipient must agree to provide outreach activities
to inform the public of the services of the program, and to provide information on

Alzheimer’s disease.

SECTION 4. Application for Grant. - A grant may be made only if any application
for the grant is submitted to the Secretary of Health and the application is in such form, is
made in such manner, and contains such agreements, assurances, and information as the
Secretary of Health determines to be necessary to carry out this Act.

SECTION 5. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the implementation of
this Act shall be charged to the budget allocated to the Department of Health under the
General Appropriations Act.

SECTION 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Secretary of Health shall
promulgate the rules and regulations necessary for the proper implementation thereof
within one hundred twenty (120) days from the effectivity of this Act.

SECTION 7. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof, is held invalid
or unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall

remain valid and subsisting.

SECTION 8. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance,
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to
or is inconsistent with the provision of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended
accordingly.

SECTION 9. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,