5 months ago
62
Upgrade to High-Speed Internet for only ₱1499/month!
Enjoy up to 100 Mbps fiber broadband, perfect for browsing, streaming, and gaming.
Visit Suniway.ph to learn
The Philippine Star
January 14, 2026 | 12:00am
Patients infected with dengue rest at a hospital ward in Manila on Feb. 19, 2025.
AFP / Ted Aljibe
MANILA, Philippines — A bill seeking to establish a tertiary hospital for geriatric medicine is closer to becoming law.
Sen. Mark Villar, the principal author and co-sponsor of the proposed Philippine Geriatric Center Act, said the proposal is now lined up for second and third reading in the Senate.
“Our seniors deserve dignified and comprehensive care that responds to the realities of aging,” Villar said. “This measure is designed to improve access to geriatric services, ease the burden on families who provide care and help older Filipinos live healthier, more independent lives.”
The bill seeks to establish the Philippine Geriatric Center as a national tertiary specialty hospital under the Department of Health (DOH). Under the proposal, the facility will serve as the lead institution for geriatric medicine, including patient care, research and training for health care professionals.
Beyond a single facility, the measure also provides for nationwide coordination among the DOH, local government units (LGUs) and relevant stakeholders to expand integrated geriatric health services throughout the country.
Further, the proposed legislation seeks to boost research and workforce development through education and training on geriatrics and age-related conditions and ensure integrated care that covers prevention, rehabilitation and multidisciplinary treatment tailored to older persons.
Villar said the measure, once enacted, would help improve seniors’ access to specialized medical attention while reducing hospitalization-related costs for families.
He called on fellow lawmakers to support the bill’s swift passage, saying that stronger geriatric care is a long-term investment in public health and in Filipino families who care for elderly loved ones.
