Cavite passes first province-wide 'Right to Care' ordinance

The Cavite Provincial Board confirmed that the Southern Luzon province now has a duly enacted healthcare proxy policy, popularly known as a "Right to Care" ordinance, which allows patients to designate who can make medical decisions on their behalf in case they are unable to do it themselves.

The board on Monday sent to GMA News Research a signed copy of Provincial Ordinance No. 532-2026, dated April 20, 2026. It aims to help respect the the wishes of patients such as solo parents, single persons, persons in same-sex relationships, and members of non-traditional households, among others, when it comes to healthcare.

The province-wide ordinance states that designated healthcare proxies will be issued a “CareCavite ID,” renewable yearly.

“The CareCavite ID is subject to yearly renewal, and both the principal and the Health Care Proxy need to participate in the renewal process to confirm their ongoing consent and agreement… [It] will continue to be valid until it is formally revoked by the principal,” the ordinance states.

“Upon presentation of the CareCavite ID, the Health Care Provider must immediately acknowledge the document's validity and the authority it grants to the Health Care Proxy,” it adds.

Conditions

The ordinance, however, does not grant absolute authority to the designated healthcare proxy in the event of incapacity of the principal; it conditions such authority on the incapacity or absence of a first-degree relative of the principal.

“In accordance with the provisions provided in this ordinance that if a health care decision is needed during a critical-medical situation and the principal is not mentally and physically capable to make any decision for themselves, on the condition that, a first-degree relative is incapable and/or not present, the Health Care Proxy shall decide on behalf of the principal,” the ordinance reads.

“The determination of the Principal's incapacity to make health care decisions shall be certified by the attending physician and properly documented in the Principal's medical records prior to the exercise of H authority by the Health Care Proxy, except in situations where immediate life-saving intervention is required,” it adds.

Growing list

Cavite joins the growing list of jurisdictions with healthcare proxy policies in the Philippines.

Just last week, Dasmariñas City and Parañaque City were confirmed to have passed their respective versions of "Right to Care" ordinances.

“Subject to any express limitations, the Health Care Agent shall have the authority to make any and all Health Care decisions on the Principal’s behalf that the Principal could make,” the Dasmariñas City Council wrote in Ordinance No. 04-s-2026 posted on its Facebook page on May 5.

The Parañaque City Council on May 6 has endorsed to the Office of the Mayor its passed ordinance, as confirmed by GMA News Research.

Quezon City, San Juan City, and Iloilo City were the first three cities confirmed to have such ordinances, with Quezon City being the first to roll out the policy during June 2023.

Bills have since been filed in Congress, aiming to make the policy nationwide in scope. —JCB, GMA News