WITH the rapidly increasing ageing population in the Philippines, senior citizens have the power to elect the next president of the country.
This was disclosed during the weekend by University professor Clarita Carlos during the launching of her book titled Population Ageing in the Philippines, Issues and Challenges at the SM Podium.
She said anyone vying for the presidency should tap the 60-year-old people and above age group because they would play a major role in electing the president in the next election.
“The population of the elderly in the Philippines will be more than 10 percent in 2020, thus political leaders should think of reaching out to [them]. Not only is this mandated in the Philippine Constitution [under Article XIII] but the number is also significant in electing the next president of this country by 2022,” Carlos said.
She pointed out that the elderly population in the Philippines is increasing faster than the growth of the population.
In 2000, there were 4.6 million senior citizens or about 6 percent of the population.
In 2010, the number grew to 6 million or 6.9 percent of the population.
By 2022, the elderly is expected to be around 12 million which is a significant factor in the election of the leaders at that period.
Carlos stressed the older age group enlarged at a faster rate of 3.4 percent per year compared with younger (1.5 percent) and working (2.8 percent) age groups from 1970 to 2010.
The ageing population is a worldwide phenomenon for all countries in the world, except Africa, according to Carlos.
The number of older persons is projected to grow by 56 percent from 901 million in 2015 to 1.4 billion in 2030.
By year 2030, the population of older persons will be more than the number of children aged 0-9 years with 1.4 billion for the former and 1.3 billion for the latter.
She said: “The ageing of our population is unprecedented. A combination of decreasing fertility rates and the increasing life expectancy have produced an ageing population.
“People are living longer because of advances in medicine, better nutrition, better health care, better education and overall well-being of society.”
It is therefore important, she added, that government, private sector and all stakeholders work hand in hand in making sure the needs and aspirations of older people are met in the light of the various challenges and implications of an ageing population.
“There are profound implications of ageing population,” Carlos said, noting the overburdened health care systems in many countries would have to adjust to the needs of older persons.