Soniate • Office of the ee retary TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session 25 AUG 14 P5:48 SENATE RECEIVED BY: Senate Bill No. 1197 Introduced by Senator Juan Miguel "Migz" F. Zubiri AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE PHILIPPINE GERIATRIC MEDICAL CENTER, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE SENIOR CITIZENS' HOSPITAL, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR EXPLANATORY NOTE In a 2025 report entitled Aging and Health in the Philippines, Wave 2 (LSAHP Wave 2) by the Longitudinal Study of Aging and Health in the Philippines (LSAHP) project, it was stated that due to the recent sharp decline in fertility rates and increased life expectancy, the Philippines is projected to evolve into an ageing society by the year 2030. An ageing society has been classified by the United Nations as one where the population of people over 60 years old comprises more than ten percent (10%) of the total population or where the population of people over 65 years old constitutes more than seven percent (7%) of the total population. The same report, which is a product of the collaboration project of the Demographic Research and Development Foundation, In., the UP Population Institute, the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia, and the Japanese government's Asia Health and Wellbeing Initiative, also bares insight into the most commonly reported illnesses of older Filipinos, with the most common being high blood pressure, followed by cataracts; arthritis, neuralgia, or rheumatism; diabetes; renal or urinary tract infection; respiratory illnesses; and angina or myocardial infarction. It is evident that older persons need better access to quality healthcare, and while this has already been partially addressed with the enactment of measures such as the Universal Healthcare Law and the mandatory PhilHealth coverage for all senior citizens, much can still be done. This demographic change that we are experiencing calls for efforts to ensure that better care is given to our ageing population. As stated in Section 11, Article XIII of the 1987 Constitution, "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. XXX" This measure seeks to establish a tertiary specialty hospital for geriatrics to be known as the Philippine Geriatric Medical Center, or the Senior Citizens' Hospital that will specialize on the needs of our senior citizens.
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this measure is earnestly sought. JUAN MIGUEL "MIGZ" F. ZUBIRI
Senate Office of the curretarp TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session 25 AUG 14 P5:48 SENATE RECEIVED BY: 1197 Senate Bill No. _ Introduced by Senator Juan Miguel "Migz" F. Zubiri AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE PHILIPPINE GERIATRIC MEDICAL CENTER, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE SENIOR CITIZENS' HOSPITAL, 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 "Philippine Geriatric
Medical Center Act" or the "Senior Citizens' Hospital Act."
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to
protect and promote the right to health of older persons by ensuring that health services are available and accessible to them through the establishment of a tertiary specialty hospital that will cater to their medical needs.
SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act:
a) Geriatric health services refer to the medical services or intervention provided by a multi-disciplinary team usually headed by a Geriatrician; b) Geriatrician refers to a medical doctor who has passed the necessary training and examination, and specializes in the field of Geriatrics; c) Geriatrics refers to the sub-specialty of Internal Medicine that aims to promote health, and to prevent and treat disabilities of older adults; d) Senior citizens or older persons refer to Filipino citizens who are at least sixty (60) years old.
SEC. 4. Establishment and the Location of the Philippine Geriatric Medical Center. -
There shall be a tertiary specialty hospital for geriatrics in Metro Manila to be known as the Philippine Geriatric Medical Center (PGMC) or the Senior Citizens' Hospital. It shall be authorized to operate a two hundred (200) bed capacity hospital dedicated to senior citizens or older persons.
SEC. 5. Board of Trustees. - The PGMC shall be administered by a Board of
Trustees, hereinafter referred to as the Board, to be composed of seven (7) members to be appointed by the President of the Philippines.
The seven (7) appointive members of the Board of Trustees shall serve for a period of four (4) years and until their successors shall have been appointed and qualified. Any vacancy in the Board shall be filled by appointment by the President of the Philippines, and the appointee shall serve for the unexpired term. The Board of Trustees of the PGMC shall elect a Chairman from among themselves, who shall be the presiding officer of the Board of Trustees. The Medical Director shall act as the Chief Executive Officer of the PGMC, with authority, among others, to appoint, remove, and fix the compensation of the personnel thereof, subject to the approval of the Board of Trustees. Four (4) members of the Board of Trustees shall constitute a quorum to transact business and any decision of such 4 members on any matter duly presented to the Board of Trustees shall constitute a valid and binding act of the PGMC.
SEC. 6. Objectives. - The PGMC shall have the following objectives:
a) To construct, operate, administer and maintain an integrated medical institution, which shall specialize in geriatric health services; b) To provide and maintain quality, affordable and timely hospital care which prioritizes the need of the elderly and the indigent citizens; c) To assist in the education and training of geriatricians, nurses, health officers, social workers, and other medical and technical personnel in the practical and scientific implementation of health services to the older persons; and d) To facilitate and encourage the dissemination of information on the prevention, treatment and control of age-related diseases.
SEC. 7. Powers. - For the attainment of the objectives, the PGMC, as a body
corporate, acting through its Board of Trustees, shall have all the powers pertaining to a juridical person, and is therefore authorized, among other things: a) To adopt a set of by-laws, rules and regulations not inconsistent with law and the provisions hereof to govern the administration and operation of the affairs of the PGMC; b) Formulate and develop programs for the enhancement of healthcare services for older persons, including the training of PGMC geriatricians, resident doctors, nurses, health officers, social workers, and other medical and technical personnel; c) Enter into such agreements and arrangements with other medical institutions, domestic or foreign as may be necessary, in attaining the objectives of PGMC; d) To acquire and hold in any manner property of whatever nature or description, and to dispose of such property under any mode of encumbrance or conveyance; e) To solicit and receive donations, endowments and funds in the form of contributions, whether in cash or in kind, from both the public and private sectors;
f) To invite foreign geriatricians and similar experts in the various medical fields not available in the country in order to train the personnel or trainees or residents of PGMC; 9) To send the personnel of the PGMC to research institutes, medical institutes or universities for advance training or observation and to attend international or regional conventions, conferences, congresses, seminars as the Board may deem necessary to accomplish the objectives of the PGMC; and h) To do all such other acts and things as may be necessary or incidental for the accomplishment of the objectives of the PGMC.
SEC. 8. Program for Indigents. - The Board shall ensure that the PGMC shall adopt
and enforce a program for indigents. The number of beds allocated for the indigent patients shall not be less than fifty percent (50%) of the total number of hospital beds.
SEC. 9. Tax Exemptions. - Any donation, bequest and grant shall be exempt from
donor's tax and the same shall be considered as allowable deduction from the gross income of the donor in accordance with the provisions of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended. The PGMC is hereby declared exempt from all income and all other internal revenue taxes, tariff, and customs duties and all other kinds of taxes, fees, charges, and amendments levied by the government and its political subdivisions, agencies, and instrumentalities.
SEC. 10. Assistance from Government Offices. - The PGMC may call upon any
bureau, office, agency or instrumentality of the government, including government- owned or controlled corporations, for such assistance as it may need in the pursuit of its purposes and objectives. All individuals, entities and institutions are hereby enjoined to render full assistance and cooperation to PGMC in the accomplishment of its objectives and activities.
SEC. 11. Auditing. - The books and accounts of the PGMC shall be under the
charge of a Resident Auditor, subject to periodic auditing by the Chairman of the 38 Commission on Audit, or his duly authorized representative.
SEC. 12. Annual Report. - The PGMC shall render to the President of the
Philippines an annual report of its activities and recommendations.
SEC. 13. Effect of Dissolution. - If, for any reason, the PGMC is dissolved, its
property remaining at the time of such dissolution shall revert to the Philippine Government for dissolution in accordance with law.
SEC. 14. Appropriations. - The Secretary of Health shall immediately include in the
Department's programs the implementation of this Act, the funding of which shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.
SEC. 15. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty (60) days from the
effectivity of this Act, the DOH, in coordination with the Department of Social Welfare and Development, and the Department of Budget and Management, shall promulgate such rules and regulations necessary for the effective implementation of this Act.
SEC. 16. Separability Clause. - Should any provision or part of this Act be declared
unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions and parts hereof, insofar as they are separable from the invalid ones, shall remain in full force and effect.
SEC. 17. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, proclamations, rules and
regulations, or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.
SEC. 18. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. Approved,