Manila: 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.

According to Philippines News Agency, 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. Cayetano emphasized the importance of prioritizing senior citizens and ensuring that state programs and services meet their needs and protect their rights to live safely and comfortably.

The measure tasks the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) with leading the rollout of the centers, in coordination with local government units. Additional or satellite centers may be established by LGUs and private groups based on the needs of their senior populations. Cayetano noted that the proposal aims to modernize the existing 1995 law on senior citizen centers, which has not kept pace with current demands. Presently, there are only 76 residential care facilities nationwide, most of which serve multiple vulnerable sectors, not just the elderly.

The bill also includes tax and tariff exemptions for imported equipment and supplies needed for the construction and operation of the centers. A Special Committee on Local Centers for the Elderly will be established to oversee program implementation and ensure compliance with minimum standards. To encourage excellence, a Seal of Excellence Awards system will be introduced to recognize outstanding local centers.

Cayetano highlighted Taguig City as a model, where a five-story, disabled-friendly Center for the Elderly was opened in 2019. He praised the facility's effectiveness in providing care to seniors with low-risk conditions and advocated for its nationwide replication. Cayetano stated, "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."