Senate ratifies bicam report on Philippine Geriatric Center

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The Senate on Tuesday ratified the Bicameral conference committee report regarding the National Specialty Center for Geriatric Health, which is one of the priority measures of the Marcos administration.

During session, Senator Risa Hontiveros moved for the ratification of the Bicameral conference committee report on Senate Bill (SB) 1509 and House Bill (HB) 6739.

Majority Floor Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri then moved to ratify and approve the report.

“Is there any objection? Hearing none, the conference committee report on the disagreeing provisions of SB 1509 and HB 6749 is hereby approved and ratified,” Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian.

Meanwhile, Hontiveros said the country’s health care system should be ready to address the needs of senior citizens.

She said the conference committee agreed to use the senate bill as the working draft.

According to Hontiveros, under the reconciled measure, the National Specialty Center for Geriatric Health, to be known as the Philippine Geriatric Center (PGC), will eventually serve as a national apex and coordinating center for geriatric health services.

While this has yet to be established and operationalized, the Evangelina Macaraeg Macapagal Geriatric Health Center (EMMGHC) will serve as the national specialty center for geriatric care.

Hontiveros said that when the PGC becomes operational, the EMMGHC will continue as a tertiary geriatric clinical referral hub with a formal referral and counter-referral system.

The PGC must be fully operational within five to seven years, according to the senator.

“Beyond these institutional arrangements, this measure is ultimately about our senior citizens. Gusto natin tiyakin na ang pagtanda ay hindi nangangahulugan ng pagkawala ng access sa dekalidad at espesyalista na pangangalaga,” Hontiveros said.

(Beyond these institutional arrangements, this measure is ultimately about our senior citizens. We want to ensure that aging does not mean losing access to quality and specialized care.)

“Ang mas mahabang buhay ay dapat sabayan ng mas malusog, mas ligtas, at mas dignified na buhay,” she added.

(Longer life should be accompanied by a healthier, safer, and more dignified life.) — BAP, GMA News