Senator Robin Padilla urges support for Nursing Home for Senior Citizens Act

Senator Robin Padilla renewed his call for the swift passage of his proposed Nursing Home for Senior Citizens Act, warning that the country’s social protection and healthcare systems remain ill-prepared for the demands of a rapidly aging population, with nearly 11 million senior citizens recorded in 2025.

Padilla issued the statement following recent discussions spearheaded by the Commission on Population and Development (CPD) and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP).

 The talks underscored the urgency of reassessing national aging policies as the Philippines undergoes a major demographic shift.

According to CPD Undersecretary Lisa Grace Bersales, the senior population of almost 11 million Filipinos accounts for 9.6 percent of the total population, just below the international threshold for an aging society.

She said the figure is projected to double between 2035 and 2040, signaling the need for immediate policy intervention.

Padilla said, “Hindi na ito usapin ng hinaharap. The aging of our population is happening now. We must prepare systems that protect our senior citizens with dignity, care, and security.”

FAMILIES CARRY THE BURDEN

Padilla stressed that although Filipino culture remains deeply family-oriented, shifting economic realities are making it increasingly difficult for households to shoulder elder care on their own.

Recent data show that fewer than half of Filipino senior citizens are covered by formal social protection programs, leaving millions without pensions, healthcare security, or long-term care support.

Many elderly Filipinos thus continue to rely heavily on children and relatives, a setup increasingly strained by rising living costs and migration trends.

“Ang pamilya ang sandigan at sandalan ng ating mga lolo't lola pero paano na kung ang mismong pamilya ay naghihirap din? Padilla asked.

His Senate Bill No. 448 seeks to institutionalize government-supported nursing homes in every city and municipality, offering structured long-term care services for elderly Filipinos.

Experts have also cautioned against widening healthcare gaps affecting senior citizens. Studies indicate that a large majority live with chronic conditions such as hypertension and heart disease, while access to geriatric care, long-term care facilities, and community-based elder services remains limited nationwide.

Padilla said the proposed nursing home system aims to directly address these challenges by providing:

• 24/7 skilled care and medical monitoring

• comfortable living spaces and nutrition support

• counseling and family dialogue services

• social, cultural, and occupational programs

• community-based healthcare coordination with local governments

“Ang mga panukalang pasilidad na ito ay hindi naglalayong palitan ang pagkalinga ng pamilya kundi bilang suporta sa mga pamilya upang matiyak na walang mga lolo't lola ang napapabayaan at hindi naaalagaan ng tama," Padilla said.

PREPARING FOR THE CRISIS

During the CPD-UNESCAP national consultation, officials emphasized that policy timing is critical, noting that the Philippines remains in a transitional phase that offers a limited window for preparation before aging-related pressures intensify.

Padilla said his proposal aligns closely with national development priorities, including the Philippine Development Plan 2023–2028 and the action programs of the National Commission of Senior Citizens.

He emphasized that the measure is not merely a social assistance initiative but a strategic investment in human dignity and long-term national readiness. He added that aging societies worldwide require governments to rethink housing, healthcare, and social protection systems, especially as modernization and digitalization risk marginalizing older citizens.

“Ang tunay na sukatan ng isang lipunan ay kung paano nito inaalagaan ang matatanda,” Padilla said. “Our senior citizens built this nation. The least we can do is ensure they live their later years with dignity, care, and security.”

-Paraluman News