Senator Alan Peter Cayetano has filed a bill seeking to establish wellness and care centers for senior citizens in every city and municipality in the country, citing the growing need to institutionalize elderly care as the population continues to age.

Cayetano said on Wednesday that Senate Bill No. 107, or the proposed Center for the Elderly in All Cities and Municipalities Act, mandates the creation of Local Centers for the Elderly that will serve as wellness hubs, safe spaces, and access points for health care, social services, and recreational activities.

“Our senior citizens deserve more, and it is the duty of the State to prioritize them and ensure that our programs and services truly respond to their needs and protect their right to live safely and comfortably,” Cayetano said.

The measure directs the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to lead the rollout of the centers in coordination with local government units. LGUs and private groups may also establish additional or satellite centers based on the needs of their senior populations.

Cayetano said the proposal aims to modernize the existing 1995 law on senior citizen centers, which has yet to meet current demands. At present, there are only 76 residential care facilities across the country, most of which serve multiple vulnerable sectors and not just the elderly.

The bill also provides tax and tariff exemptions for imported equipment and supplies needed to build and operate the centers. A Special Committee on Local Centers for the Elderly will be formed to oversee program implementation and ensure each facility meets minimum standards.

To promote excellence, a Seal of Excellence Awards system will be established to recognize outstanding local centers.

Cayetano cited Taguig City, which in 2019 opened a five-story, disabled-friendly Center for the Elderly as a model. He said the facility has been effective in providing care to seniors with low-risk conditions and should be replicated nationwide.

“We are doing this because napakalaki ng contribution ng mga senior citizen sa ating lipunan. We are honoring them [through this measure] because they have done so much (We are doing this because senior citizens have contributed greatly to our society. We are honoring them through this measure because they have done so much),” Cayetano said. (PNA)