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Pursuant to Board Resolution No. 24 series of 2010, the following Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) are hereby adopted:

RULE 1. DEFINITION OF TERMS

For purposes of this IRR, the following terms words and phrases shall mean and be understood as follows:

a. Authority – The Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA) created pursuant to Executive Order No. 1037 dated 04 July 1985.
b. LOI 1470 – the letter of instruction dated 04 July 1985 that directs the issuance of the Special Resident Retiree’s Visa (SRRV) and the establishment of a Resident Retiree’s Processing Center.
c. Act – Republic Act No. 9593, otherwise known as the “Tourism Act of 2009” which makes the Authority an attached GOCC of the Department of Tourism (DOT).
d. SRRV – an endorsement made by the proper authorities on a retiree’s passport, classifying the retiree as a special non-immigrant and allowing him multiple-entry to and residence in the Philippines for an indefinite period.
e. Human Touch Scheme – a retirement product for the ailing retirees, both a substantial humanitarian and economic product; will use global telco facilities and soft faculties and qualities of Filipinos; will tap healthcare, business and faith-based sectors/organizations.
f. Retiree – an applicant for SRRV via the “Human Touch” program who is at least 35 years old, having a pre-existing medical condition, and needs clinical care and services including those offered via the SWS Center.
g. SWS – a contact center that will eventually use various channels of communication with retirees to answer their needs and offer the whole range of products and services provided by PRA accredited facilities and merchant partners, a veritable Retirement Mall.
h. Telemedicine – is a rapidly developing application of clinical medicine where medical information is transferred through interactive audiovisual media for the purpose of consulting and sometimes remote medical procedures or examinations.  It also refers to the provision of clinical services.
i. Store-and-forward telemedicine – involves acquiring medical data (like medicine images, biosignals, etc. ) and then transmitting this data to a doctor or medical specialist at a convenient time for assessment offline.
j. Remote monitoring – also known as self-monitoring testing, enables medical professionals to monitor a patient remote using various technological services.
k. Interactive telemedicine services – provide real-time interactions between patient and provider, to include phone conversations, online communications and home visits.
l. Human Touch Telemedicine Network (HTTN) – a consultation process where a patient’s medical records/history will be shared among local, hub and home hospitals after consulting among his doctors in the local, hub, and home hospitals regarding his-pre-existing condition and treatment. This HTTN seeks the diffusion of higher medical and care standards for the benefit of the foreign retiree in the Philippines.  The written consent of the patient to disclose his medical records must be required.
m. RADAR Retirement Program – a website-based program that puts every town and city in the global RADAR. This will help ensure cooperation among LGUs, hospitals, retirees and other service providers at the city and town level.
n. Home Stay - This system involves the participation of local residents who offer their homes as a place to stay.  Retirees may opt for a short or long-term stay in these domiciles, while its owners provide a minimum of bed-and-breakfast accommodation, in coordination with hospitals/clinics and recreation/wellness facilities.
o. Home Hospital – a hospital in the retiree’s country of origin having custody of the medical history, records, and files of the retirees; and employing or having employed doctors familiar with the patient.
p. Hub Hospital – a hospital in the Philippines duly accredited by any internationally- accepted accrediting body recognized by offshore and local medical insurance providers.
q. Local Hospital – a hospital in the Philippines that is proximate to the retiree’s residence.
r. Healthcare Delivery System (HDS) – a network of hospitals and clinics that is accredited, recognized, and considered by medicine insurance providers to possess the capabilities necessary to satisfy their prescribed standards of performance.
s. Banks – priority banks are government bank’s i.e. Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) and the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP). Accredited large private universal banks may be considered.
t. Required $TD – the qualifying visa deposit of $10,000 which is non-convertible into investment. This has to be inwardly remitted to a PRA designated bank for the account of PRA with the retirees name in brackets.
u. Annual PRA Fee (APF) – the yearly fee for $360.00 that has to be paid by the retiree or his authorized representative upon enrolment in the program to include his/her spouse and dependent.
v. Withdrawal Clearance – the Authorization issued by PRA signed by its authorized officers allowing the withdrawal of the principal time deposit including interest earned.

RULE II. PERSONS QUALIFIED

To qualify under this program, the retiree must, prior to his arrival in the Philippines be shown to have a pre-existing medical condition and in need of clinical care and services.

RULE III. REQUIREMENTS

Section 1. To qualify for the SRR Visa, the retiree shall comply with/submit the following:

a. Original of the passport with valid entry visa
b. Accomplished Application Form (See Annex “A”)
c. Police Clearance from country of origin duly authenticated by the Philippine Consulate near his/her residence; this can be waived based on the seriousness of the health condition of the potential enrollee.
d. NBI Clearance (if the retire has stayed in the Philippines for more than 30 days from date of last entry)
e. Certificate of Visa Deposit for $10,000 for the account of PRA to be issued by a PRA designated bank.
f. Medical Certificate or Letter of Instruction –

> Prepared by the attending physician in the home hospital:
> Authenticated by the Philippine Embassy/Consular Office (with English translation) in the country nearest the retiree’s residence; and
> Confirmed by the hub/local hospitals/medical clinic of HDS

Regarding the pre-existing health condition of the retiree specifying the corresponding health care and services needed.

g. Proof of monthly pension remitted to the Philippines equal to a least $1,500.
h. Health insurance portable to and acceptable in the Philippines
i. Pay the one time application fee for $1,400.00 and the PRA annual fee for $360.

RULE IV TERM AND CONDITIONS

Section 1. This IRR shall apply new enrollees for SRRV who where shown to have a pre-existing medical condition and are in need of medical care and services as certified by attending physician from either the retiree’s home hospital or by the local or hub hospitals.

Upon enrollment, the enrollee will nominate his local-base hospital, hub hospital, and home-base hospital, which will be included in PRA’s Telemedicine Network (PTN).

Section 2. The retiree must be housed in a retirement accommodation facility registered with PRA. Preferably, the said retirement accommodation facility should be part of retirement franchising system to ensure quality standards.   Aging in place and home health care arrangement are also encouraged.

Section 3. The retiree is covered by Health Insurance policy, whether local or abroad.

Section 4. The retiree is a holder of “State Guarantee” in the event of insolvency of Pension and/or Health Care providers. This can be waived in the case of high quality pension and health insurance providers.

Section 5. The maintenance of the SRR Visa of The retiree under this program is conditioned upon payment of the Annual PRA Fee (APF) for $360.00.

Section 6. The required $10,000 visa deposit is inconvertible into investment and withdrawable only upon cancellation of the SRR Visa.  It may be used also to satisfy end of term needs or catastrophic obligations of the retiree such as extreme medical condition, death, repatriation, etc.

Furthermore, the retiree’s deposit cannot be used for the satisfaction of claims of retiree’s creditors or be subject to garnishment or levy.

Section 7. In the event of death of the retiree, whether testate or intestate, the required visa deposit shall be released/withdrawn in accordance with the national law of the decedent as provided for under the Philippine Law on succession.

Section 8. Upon payment of the PRA  Annual Fee, the legitimate SRRV holder under this program shall be issued a PRA card, which can be used as:

- Identification Card/Proof of Identity
- Proof of Legal Status
- Access card for the services of Resident Retiree Servicing Center, Recreation and Therapy Centers, and the Office of Social Concerns
- Discount card in purchases at Duty-Free designated outlets
- Discount card for the availment of the services via the SWS Service Center
- Membership in other clubs (depending on availability)

Section 9. Failure to pay the APF, after due notice, shall constitute a valid ground for the revocation of the SRR Visa and inclusion of his/her name in the watchlist of the Bureau of Immigration.

RULE V. OTHER PROVISIONS

Section 1. Separability Clause.  In the  event that any provisions of these Rules or parts thereof are declared unconstitutional, such declaration shall not affect the validity of other provisions.

Section 2. Effectivity. This Implementating Guidelines shall take effect 15 days after receipt of copies thereof by the Office of the National Administrative Register (ONAR), U.P. Law Center, Diliman, Quezon City

Adopted: 13 April 2011


(SGD.) VEREDIGNO P. ATIENZA
General Manager