Bill on national center for elderly seen to hurdle House, but Senate version still at committee level

A BILL that seeks to establish a national health and research center specializing in care for the elderly can be approved on final reading before the House of Representatives on Monday, one of its authors said on Friday.

Deputy Speaker and Manila Rep. Bienvinido “Benny” M. Abante, who authored House Bill 10697 or the Geriatric Health Act, said he is confident that the measure will be approved by the House on third reading since it has always backed measures that help senior citizens.

“This goes beyond optimism; the track record of the House shows that it has always supported measures that benefit our senior citizens, and I believe we can expect the same support for the passage of this bill,” Mr. Abante told BusinessWorld in an email.

However, a counterpart bill in the upper chamber, filed by Senator Aquilino Martin “Koko” L. Pimentel III in 2019, remains pending at the committee level.

Congress will go on a more than three-month recess from Feb. 5 to May 22 for the May 9 elections. It will resume sessions from May 23 to June 3 and go on sine die adjournment from June 4 to July 24. 

Under the House version, a National Health Center for Geriatric Health and Institute will be established.

Quezon Rep. Angelina “Helen” D.L. Tan, who co-authored the bill and chairs the House Committee on Health, said the proposed law is important as most senior citizens have difficulty accessing health care services as most of them do not have a pension and not enough money to afford it. 

She noted that only 23% of them receive a pension under the Social Security System for the private sector, 6% from the public service system, and 16% get a social pension worth P500 monthly.

“…Another concern is the shortage of facilities and doctors that cater specifically to the elderly,” she said.

“The Philippines is projected to transition to an aging population between 2025 to 2030. These will have implications for the health system,” she added. — Jaspearl Emerald G. Tan