MANILA – A measure which aims to create a commission solely dedicated in promoting and protecting the elderly hurdled second has been approved by the Senate on second reading on Thursday.
Senate Bill No. 2159, under Committee Report 552, seeks to create the “National Commission of Senior Citizens” (NCSC), which will make sure that the rights and interests of senior citizens are well taken care of.
Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, the Senate Social Justice and Rural Development committee acting chair, said with the aging population of the country makes it important to prepare for such population trend and the creation of the commission is a good start.
According to the Population Commission, the population of senior citizens in the country in 2018 is at 8.013 million, while the United Nations Population Fund projected that the senior population in the Philippines is expected to hit 23.63 million by 2050.
“Growing old comes with a variety of challenges, from physical to economic. With situations like these, it is important that we create for senior citizens a supportive and an enabling environment where they are assisted and appreciated,” Trillanes said.
He added: “This representation believes that our senior citizens have broadly contributed to the growth and progress of our nation, and continue to do so given the right opportunities. It is time for us to give back by protecting their rights and ensuring the proper execution of programs for their well-being.”
Trillanes said that the NCSC will be under the office of the President and will be composed of a chairperson and six commissioners.
Some of the functions of the commission are to ensure the full implementation of laws, policies and programs for the elderly; formulate policies for the promotion and protection of their rights and well-being; conduct information and education campaigns to raise awareness of senior citizens’ rights; and represent the Philippines in international functions, forums and other conferences involving senior citizens./PN
Sir/mam tanong ko lng po sino sino po makakatangap ng 100k para sa mga senior na 100 years old na pwedi po kahit sino po ba basta umidad na na 100years old