The National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC) has cited the role of the Filipino elderlies in nation-building, saying they are a rich-source of “productive manpower.”
“Senior citizens have been helping build a strong country,” said NCSC chair Franklin Quijano.
Quijano disclosed that as high as 40 percent of the elderly Filipinos still work even after reaching the retirement age of 60.
The NCSC estimated that one out of every 10 Filipinos belong to senior citizens sector who have been accorded various benefits by different laws, notably Republic Act 7432 or The Senior Citizens Act.
Quijano predicted that within 15 years, the number of senior citizens will double to the ratio of about two senior citizens out of every 10 Filipinos.
“This means that in the future more senior citizens will have to remain working,” Quijano said.
He also revealed that among the mandates of the NCSC is to encourage senior citizens to contribute to nation-building.
The NCSC also urges families and communities with senior citizens to “reaffirm Filipino value of caring for senior citizens.”
The NCSC also “promotes programs that encourage participation of senior citizens in social and economic enterprise development.
Quijano added that the elderly sector has strength, opportunity, aspiration, and resolve to contribute to country. “We hope that we will be given a chance to soar together with the rest of society in contributing something more for our country,” Quijano said.
Created by law in September 2019, the NCSC faces legal constraints in dispensing benefits for senior citizens such as the P500 monthly assistance for indigent senior citizens currently being distributed by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
The NCSC also sought to closely coordinate with the DSWD in devolving its functions relating to senior citizens without displacing affected DSWD employees.
The Commission was likewise mandated to raise awareness on the rights and benefits of senior citizens.
With a limited budget, the NCSC was still in the process of completing its workforce.
Every year from October 1-7, the Philippines honors its senior citizens with the observance of the Elderly Filipino Week.
For the forthcoming event, the NCSC has lined up a schedule of activities following the theme Older Persons: Resilience for Nation-Building.
The NCSC has also encouraged frontline leaders in governance and the local government units (LGUs) including civic organizations to actively participate in the affair and ensure the success of the celebration through the programs and activities especially dedicated to our elderly populace.
Among the groups that have been tapped to help the NCSC are the National Government Agencies (NGAs) National Government Organizations (NGOs) Local Government Units (LGUs) Senior Citizens Organizations/Associations Federation of Senior Citizens of the Philippines (FSCAP), private organizations, religious groups and the civil society.
Also expected to collaborate and provide assistance are the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Commission of Human Rights (CHR).
The Coalition of Services for the Elderly (COSE) are likewise enjoined to coordinate, to the Federation of Senior Citizens Association of the Philippines (FSCAP) in carrying out these activities for the elderly.
To kick-off the week-long celebration on October 1, a national opening ceremony will be held in the National Capital Region with similar activities set simultaneously in various regions and provinces throughout the country.