Nursing Home for Senior Citizens (Nhsc) Act

i.. 20l1 4 TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE } REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session JUL -2 P4:31 SENATE RICHES S.B. No. 20 Introduced by Senator Robinhood Padilla AN ACT ESTABLISHING AT LEAST ONE NURSING HOME PER CITY OR PROVINCE FOR SENIOR CITIZENS, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES EXPLANATORY NOTE The Philippines has been known as a family-centered nation. Embedded in the Filipino culture is the strong and close-knit family ties, which thereby put a high premium on the responsibility of families to look after and care for each other, especially the elderly. In fact, no less than the 1987 Constitution provides that [t]he State recognizes the Filipino family as the foundation of the nation. Accordingly, it shall strengthen its solidarity and actively promote its total development (Section 1, Article XV). Further, the supreme law of the land stipulates 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. While the tradition of caring for the elderly deeply lingers in Filipino families, it is a reality today that many underprivileged families encounter major challenges and gaps in ensuring the well-being of older people. Such challenges are mainly attributed to poor access to health care and low income and assets, which result in many of the elderly, specifically women, depending on their children for economic support.' Worse, ' Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). 2019. Provision of Care for Filipino Older Persons and Responding to the Needs of Aging Societies. Accessed on 05 July 2022 from https://www.un.org/

there are also cases wherein elderly people are neglected and/or abandoned by their supposed families. Another factor that the government must look into is the steady rise of the elderly population in the country, as reported by the Commission on Population and Development (CPD). In 2019, senior citizens in the Philippines account for 8.2 percent of the population, and the CPD anticipates that this is expected to hit 14 percent between 2030 and 2035.2 In regions like Central Luzon, the aging population is already above the national average, with projections indicating that by 2030, the proportion of individuals aged 60 and above will rise to 7% . With the anticipated rise in the elderly population, limited number of public geriatric services available, and the rising standard of living in the country, it is incumbent upon the State to lend a hand in ensuring that the welfare and special needs of the elderly people are addressed. It is now time that we do away with just merely giving "ayuda" to our elderly. The government should rather focus on establishing a system that will provide them with comprehensive care - in a facility that makes them feel cared for, loved and protected. This is based on the principle that our elderly are our treasure, historically, spiritually and patriotically, hence, they should not feel that living their lives to old age is a burden to society. This bill therefore seeks to establish and institutionalize a Nursing Home for Senior Citizens in every city and municipality in the country to assist families in providing for the special needs and demands of the elderly. development/desa/pd/sites/www.un.org.development.desa.pd/files/unpd_egm_201902_s8_pleneegra cejcastillo.pdf - Galvez, D. (2019). Philippines to have 'aging population between 2030 and 2035 - CPD'. Philippine Dail Inquirer. Accessed on 05 July 2022 from https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1075493/philippines-to-have-aging- population-between-2030-and-2035-cpd

It is for these reasons that the passage of this bill is earnestly sought. Senator

TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session 25 JUL -2 P4:31 SENATE RECORDSO S.B. No. Introduced By Senator Robinhood Padilla AN ACT ESTABLISHING AT LEAST ONE NURSING HOME PER CITY OR PROVINCE FOR SENIOR CITIZENS, 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. - The Act shall be known as the " Nursing Home for Senior

Citizens (NHSC) Act".

Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to promote a just

and dynamic social order that will ensure the prosperity and independence of the nation and free the people from poverty through policies that provide adequate social services, promote full employment, a rising standard of living, and an improved quality of life for all. While the family has the duty to care for its elderly members, the State may also do so through just programs of social security. It is hereby declared the policy of the State to provide nursing homes for senior citizens in every city and province in the country with quality and affordable care and nursing facilities for elderly Filipinos.

Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act:

a. Care refers to the fulfillment of the special needs and requirements of the senior citizens;

b. Nursing Home for Senior Citizens or NHSC refers to the place and facilities designed to provide skilled care to the elderly, twenty-four (24) hours a day, seven (7) days a week; and c. Senior citizen refers to any resident citizen of the Philippines at least sixty (60) years old.

Sec. 4. Establishment of NHSC. - The city or provincial local government unit

(LGU) shall establish an NHSC in their respective jurisdictions for the services provided in Section 5 of this Act.

Sec. 5. Services of NHSC. - The NHSC shall provide senior citizens with the

following services: a. Comfortable living spaces; b. Adequate food and clothing; C. Personal and custodial care; d. Medical consultation, treatment, and monitoring; e. Health care; f. Social and recreational activities; g. Occupational opportunities; h. Counseling; i. Family dialogue; j. Case conferences; Literacy education; 1. Religious, cultural, and vocational activities; and m. Such other similar services, as may be required by the LGU concerned.

Sec. 6. Administration of NHSC. - The Office of the City Mayor or Provincial

Governor shall have the control and management of the NHSC. The Office shall also appoint the person who will administer the NHSC.

Sec. 7. Supervision and Monitoring NHSC. The Department of Social Welfare

and Development (DSWD) shall supervise and monitor the NHSC to ensure it is faithfully providing the services stated in Section 5 of this Act. The City or Provincial Social Welfare Development Officer shall submit a quarterly report on the disbursements and expenditures related to the management 6 of the NHSC under their respective jurisdictions to the DSWD.

Sec. 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The DSWD, in coordination with

the Department of Health, Department of Interior and Local Government, and other 9 concerned agencies and entities, shall hereby promulgate the rules and regulations to carry out the provisions of this Act not later than ninety (90) days after its effectivity.

Sec. 9. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of

12 this Act shall be included in the appropriations of the DSWD in the General 13 Appropriations Act of the year following its enactment into law and every year 14 thereafter.

Sec. 10. Separability Clause. - In the event any provision of this Act or the

16 application of such provision is declared invalid, the remainder of this Act or the application of the said provision shall not be affected thereby.

Sec. 11. Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders,

rules and regulations, or parts thereof that are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or amended accordingly.

Sec. 12. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

publication in the Official Gazette or in any newspaper of general circulation. Approved,