“As our population ages, our health system must be ready to care for the conditions that come with aging.” — Zubiri
The country’s senior citizens will have something to look forward to five to seven years from now when the Philippine Geriatric Center is expected to open its doors to them.
By that time, the Philippines will have transitioned into one of the world’s aging societies, with 10 percent of its population aged 65 and above — about 10-12 million seniors in 2030.
After having passed the Senate last week, the Geriatric Center bill will now go to the Bicameral Conference Committee since the House of Representatives had passed a counterpart measure in December 2025.
One of the priorities in the legislative agenda of the Marcos administration, the bill is seen to be signed by the President before the 20th Congress ends its regular session.
“As our population ages, our health system must be ready to care for the conditions that come with aging,” says Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri.
“I have high hopes that this measure will make a real difference in the lives of our senior citizens, not just by improving access to care, but by giving families greater confidence that their loved ones are being looked after with dignity and competence,” he added.
Zubiri described the approval of the bill as a concrete step toward building a healthcare system that responds to the realities of an aging population and gives senior citizens the focused care they deserve.
He explained that the bill aims to establish a tertiary specialty hospital under the Department of Health that will focus on comprehensive geriatric services, while also serving as a training and research hub to help raise standards of care across the country.
According to Zubiri, this structure allows lessons and best practices to flow beyond one facility and into regional and local health systems.
“Magiging mas madali nang 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
Senate Deputy Majority Leader Risa Hontiveros, the bill’s main sponsor, said the Philippine Geriatric Center seeks to enhance access to specialized healthcare services 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,” Sen. Risa said.
An amendment she introduced mandates that the Philippine Geriatric Center be constructed, fully equipped, and operational within five to seven years to prevent it from becoming an idle government project.
The Department of Health is expected to lead the implementation of the measure once enacted into law.
The bill also incorporates an amendment from Senator Robin Padilla directing the facility to prioritize indigent and low-income older persons and other vulnerable aging populations.
Amendments from Senator Pia Cayetano integrate social welfare and protection programs into geriatric services and require age-friendly amenities and facilities within the hospital.
“You can count on me to continue working in the Senate with my colleagues to pass more laws that will promote the health of every Filipino,” she said.
Senate Bill No. 1509 was sponsored on the floor by Sen. Risa Hontiveros and authored by Zubiri and Sens. Mark Villar, Bong Go, Lito Lapid, Jinggoy Estrada, Loren Legarda, Erwin Tulfo, Raffy Tulfo, Joel Villanueva, Robin Padilla, JV Ejercito, Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, Camille Villar, Kiko Pangilinan and Pia Cayetano.
