MANILA – The Senate on Monday approved a measure to create the Philippine Geriatric Center (PGC), a specialized tertiary hospital designed to strengthen healthcare services for senior citizens and address the needs of the country’s aging population.

Senate Bill 1509 was passed with 23 affirmative votes, zero negative votes, and no abstentions.

Senator Risa Hontiveros said the center aims to respond to the increasing healthcare demands of older Filipinos.

“Hindi natin maikakailang habang humahaba ang buhay, posibleng dumarami rin ang ating mga karamdaman (We cannot deny that as life becomes longer, illnesses may also increase),” she said, citing conditions such as diabetes, dementia, and arthritis.

Hontiveros also highlighted the shortage of specialists and facilities for elder care.

“Napakakaunti pa lang ng geriatricians… Wala ring sentro at espesyalistang ospital na nakatuon sa kanila (There are still very few geriatricians… There is also no center or specialist hospital focused on them),” she said.

The bill proposes a comprehensive geriatric care system under the supervision of the Department of Health (DOH), offering medical, diagnostic, rehabilitative, wellness, and long-term care services tailored for older persons. It will also function as a teaching and training hospital, support research on aging-related diseases, and develop elder-sensitive healthcare standards in coordination with government agencies, local government units, and private stakeholders.

Facilities are to include barrier-free designs, senior-friendly wards, rehabilitation and memory care units, palliative and end-of-life services, and disaster-resilient infrastructure. The PGC will be integrated into the Universal Health Care system, with priority access for indigent and low-income senior citizens.

The bill also calls for the creation of a National Geriatric Health Registry to aid data-driven policy and planning. Funding for the center will come from current DOH appropriations, with future funding included in the General Appropriations Act. The DOH is tasked to complete construction and operationalization within five to seven years from the law’s effectivity, subject to congressional oversight.