SPECIALTY HOSPITAL FOR SENIOR CITIZENS NOW CLOSER TO REALITY – HONTIVEROS

SENATOR Risa Hontiveros expressed joy as the Senate on Monday in a 23-0 vote passed on third and final reading the bill creating a specialty hospital for senior citizens, which she said will improve healthcare for elderly Filipinos.

“Magiging mas madali ng matupad ang good health at long life na lagi nating wini-wish tuwing birthday ng ating mga lolo’t lola dahil sa pagpasa ng Philippine Geriatric Center (PGC) Act,” Hontiveros said of the approval of Senate Bill No. 1509.

She continued, “Maraming salamat sa aking mga kasama sa Senado at muli kaming nagkaisa para sa isa na namang ‘happy bill’ para sa ating mga kababayan, partikular na ang ating senior citizens.”

Hontiveros said she hopes that the bill will be enacted into law as soon as possible, especially since a version of the proposal passed the House of Representatives in December 2025, has been identified by the Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council as a priority measure, and is included in the Department of Health’s executive agenda for legislation.

“Ang dami nating utang na loob sa ating mga lolo’t lola. Deserve naman nilang masuklian ng maaruga at magaling na pag-alaga, lalo na kung sila’y manghina at magkasakit,” Hontiveros said. “Sana maisabatas na ang Philippine Geriatric Center Act sa lalong madaling panahon.”

The bill approved by the Senate carries an amendment from Hontiveros that will ensure that the PGC will not become a “white elephant” or a useless government project.

“Minamandato ng probisyon ko na dapat maipatayo, fully equipped, at operational sa loob ng five to seven years ang Philippine Geriatric Center. Inaasahan kong tutuparin ito ng gobyerno, sa pangunguna ng DOH, sa oras na maipasa ang batas na ito,” Hontiveros said.

The bill also contains an amendment from Sen. Robin Padilla that ensures that the PGC will prioritize indigent and low-income older persons, and vulnerable aging populations, while amendments by Sen. Pia Cayetano integrate social welfare and protection programs with geriatric care and ensure age-friendly amenities and facilities within the hospital.

“Pati sa pangangalaga sa ating mga lolo’t lola, dapat walang naiiwan sa ating lipunan. Sinisigurado ng amendments na ito na ang pagtutok natin sa kalusugan ng mga senior ay alinsunod pa rin sa framework ng universal health care,” Hontiveros said.

Another amendment from Hontiveros and Sen. Bong Go also prescribes that the head of the PGC must be a duly licensed physician with demonstrated experience and competence in geriatric care and in hospital administration and management.

“Malaki ang pasasalamat ko kina Sen. Robin, Sen. Pia at Sen. Bong para sa kanilang pagtulong na pinuhin pa ang panukalang batas para sa Philippine Geriatric Center. Maraming salamat rin sa mga kapwa kong author ng bill, kasama si Sen. Bong, pati na rin sina Majority Leader Migz Zubiri, Sen. Mark Villar, Sen. Lito Lapid, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, Sen. Loren Legarda, Sen. Erwin Tulfo, Sen. Raffy Tulfo at Sen. Joel Villanueva,” Hontiveros said.

She continued, “Maasahan ninyo na sa patuloy kong pagtatrabaho sa Senado kasama ang aking mga colleague, marami pa po akong maipapasang batas para sa kalusugan ng bawat Pilipino.”