Photo courtesy of Philippine News Agency (PNA).
The Senate on Monday approved on third and final reading a bill establishing the Philippine Geriatric Center (PGC), a specialized hospital envisioned to improve healthcare services for senior citizens.
The measure, Senate Bill No. 1509 or the Philippine Geriatric Center Act, was sponsored by Senator Risa Hontiveros, who said its passage addressed the growing healthcare needs of an aging population.
Hontiveros expressed hope that the proposal would be enacted swiftly, noting that a counterpart bill had already been approved by the House of Representatives in December 2025 and identified as a priority by the Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC).
She also said the bill formed part of the Department of Health’s (DOH) legislative agenda, underscoring executive support for the initiative.
Under the measure, the PGC would serve as a dedicated government hospital providing affordable and quality care for elderly Filipinos, while coordinating nationwide geriatric services with the DOH, local governments, and other partners.
The center would also lead research on aging-related diseases, help set standards for geriatric care in hospitals and residential facilities, and support the establishment of senior citizens’ wards in government hospitals.
To ensure effective management, the Senate adopted an amendment requiring the head of the center to be a licensed physician with proven expertise in geriatric care and hospital administration, a safeguard lawmakers said would prevent the project from becoming underutilized.