The Low and Slow Ageing in the Philippines: Auspicious or Challenging?

Nimfa B. Ogena
University of the Philippines Population Institute (UPPI)













30 June 2006






A revised version of the paper prepared for the Conference on the Impact of Ageing: A
Common Challenge for Europe and Asia to be held on 7-10 June 2006 at the University
of Vienna and the National Defense Academy, Vienna, Austria. The paper was
completed during the authors term of visit at the Vienna Institute of Demography (VID),
Austria Academy of Sciences, for which she wishes to express her grateful
acknowledgement of all the support she received from the VID and its staff.


Ogena 2006, p.2

While coping with a rapidly increasing population, a sluggish fertility decline, a
steadily improving life expectancy and a highly mobile workforce, the Philippines has to
face yet another demographic issue: a predictably growing number of older persons.
Compared to its more economically advanced neighbors like Japan, Korea, Singapore,
and Taiwan, the country is experiencing a rather low and slow ageing process
(Hendricks and Yoon 2006). This phenomenon could be viewed either as an auspicious
or as a challenging situation. Auspicious as there is time to prepare for the eventual rise
in the population of older persons but challenging as well since limited resources of the
country have to be equitably managed to address the likely increase in the resource
requirements of this population segment.
The aim of the paper is to analyze the population trends and future prospects of
demographic ageing in the Philippines and articulate implications of population ageing on
health, productivity, and mobility in the context of the cultural and legal framework for
older people in the Philippines in the country. Used for this study are various years of the
population census, official population projections based on the 2000 census, the 1996
Philippine Elderly and Near Elderly Survey and other relevant secondary data sources.

PROFILE OF SENIOR CITIZENS
The most recent census in year 2000 accounted for 4.6 million senior citizens or 60
years and over population in the Philippines (NSO 2005a). The median age of senior
citizens was 68 years and more than half of them were females. There were 85 males per
100 females recorded in 2000. The surplus of females over males is evident in all age
categories with the largest gender difference in the 80 years and over age-group (see
Figure 1), which could be the result of higher female life expectancies and their higher
survival rates at later ages than their male counterparts (UN 2001).

Figure 1. Age-Sex Population Pyramid of the Senior Citizens: Philippines, 2000

Source: NSO 2005a, Figure 1.
About three in five of the senior citizens were married. Males were more likely to be
married or in a marital arrangement while females were more likely to be single,
widowed, divorced or separated. Roman Catholic was the most prevalent religion.
Literacy rate was high at 81.01 percent, with males (82.23 percent) posting a
advantage over females (79.97 percent). Three in five senior citizens had at most
elementary education while one in four had at least some high school education. Only
five percent were able to finish a college degree and again there is a female advantage in
college completion.
More than half of the household population 60 years old and over were gainfully
employed in 2000. Males were more likely to work than females. Among those who
work, more than half (52.47 percent) worked without pay in own-family operated


Ogena 2006, p.3

farm/business. Only one in five was self-employed without any paid workers. Senior
citizens constituted 13.77 percent of the total farmers, forestry workers or fishermen and
6 percent of the total laborers and unskilled workers in the country in 2000. ARMM had
the largest proportion of senior citizens in gainful work (82.92 percent), followed by
Western Mindanao (67.90 percent) and CAR (66.60 percent). When asked how long
older persons should work, the 1996 Elderly Survey data reveal that the majority (89
percent) were of the opinion that they should continue to work as long as they can
(Cabigon 1999).
On the geographic distribution of senior citizens, the majority was residing in
CALABARZON, Central Luzon, Western Visayas, National Capital Region (NCR),
Ilocos region and Central Visayas (see Figure 2). However, eight of the 17 regions in
2000 recorded higher regional proportions of senior citizens compared to the 5.97 percent
national level, most of which were relatively poorer regions of the country.

Figure 2. Percentage of 60 years old and over to the Total Population of Senior
Citizens in the Country and to the Regional Population, 2000
0.00 2.00 4.00 6.00 8.00 10.00 12.00
REGION I - Ilocos Region
REGION II - Cagayan Valley
REGION III - Central Luzon
REGION IVA - CALABARZON
REGION IVB - MIMAROPA
REGION V - Bicol Region
REGION VI - Western VIsayas
REGION VII - Central Visayas
REGION VIII - Eastern Visayas
REGION IX - Western Mindanao
REGION X - Northern Mindanao
REGION XI - Southern Mindanao
REGION XII - Central Mindanao
NCR (National Capital Region)
CAR (Cordillera Administrative Region)
ARMM (Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao)
Caraga
Percent
Percent of 60 years old and over to the Total Population of Senior Citizens in the Country
Percent of 60 years old and over in the Regional Population

Source: NSO 2005a

Nearly three of five senior citizens in the Philippines were household heads (NSO
2005a). Headship rate among males and females was highest at ages 60 to 64 years


Ogena 2006, p.4

(39.41 percent for male-headed households and 29.69 percent for females). The majority
of senior citizens have not changed residence over the last five years. Only 1.84 percent
representing 84,078 migrated from other places within the country between 1995 and
2000, and 0.19 percent from other countries (NSO 2005a). Having settled in a place after
retirement, the mobility prospect among older Filipino people is low and limited to those
who are not working, had low education or receiving elderly care from spouse and
children (Ogena and Williams 1999). Five percent of the senior citizens were foreigners.
Most elderly Filipinos live with their children, spouse or other relatives (De Guzman
1999). Compared, however, with other countries like Taiwan, Chile, Mexico, Uruguay,
Argentina, Cuba, and Brazil, the population 60 years and over in the Philippines were
more likely to live with their unmarried children (Glaser et al. 2004). One in five
households in the Philippines had at least one senior citizen in 2000 (NSO 2005a). Only
about 5.38 percent of the senior citizens were living alone, with most of then were in the
60 to 64 age group and majority were females (64.54 percent).
On disability, senior citizens accounted for 34.93 percent of the total persons with
disabilities (PWDs) in the country. However, only 7.21 percent of the total number of
senior citizens had some forms of disability. Low vision was the common reported
disability, followed by difficulty of hearing, partial blindness, partial deafness, and total
blindness (NSO 2005a).
While often believed as frail individuals who get sicklier as they get older, other
factors like heredity, lifestyle, eating habits, and ones state of mind, among others, affect
the old persons health quite independent of age (Natividad 1999). The common heath
problems of older persons reported in the 1996 elderly survey were arthritis/rheumatism,
hypertension, lung diseases (e.g., asthma, emphysema, tuberculosis), cataracts and hearth
problems.
Glaser and others (2004) compared the population 60 years and over in Taiwan,
Chile, Mexico, Uruguay, Argentina, Cuba, Brazil and the Philippines. They found that
senior citizens in the Philippines were most likely to receive financial and material
support from their children and at the same time the least likely to receive assistance from
their children for ADL or activities of daily living or IADL or instrumental activities of
daily living (Glaser et al. 2004). ADLs include activities like walking, mobility to/from
bed/chair, eating, putting on clothes, toilet use, personal hygiene, and continence while
IADLs refer to activities such as meal preparation, housework, use of phone, use of
transportation, shopping, managing basic finances, and taking medications. This is
perhaps due again to the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) phenomenon, which separates
a large number of elderly Filipino parents and their children.
Nonetheless, older persons are not only receivers but also providers of financial,
material, and childcare support to children, grandchildren, siblings, parents and others.
The Filipino elderly were found to be nearly twice more likely and about thrice more
likely than their counterparts in Thailand and Taiwan, respectively, to be both receiver
and provider of support (Oftedal et al. 2004).

PHILIPPINE DEMOGRAPHIC SETTING
By global standards, the Philippines have a young population with 37 percent of its
population less than 15 years old. With an annual average rate of increase of 2.36 percent
between 1995 and 2000, the Philippines is one of the few remaining countries in the
world that still has a relatively high population growth rate (PGR) and has not shown a
significant reduction in PGR during the last two quinquennia (see Figure 3).


Ogena 2006, p.5


Figure 3. Actual and Projected Population with Annual Average Growth Rate:
Philippines, 1970-2040
36.7
42.1
48.1
60.7
68.6
76.9
85.3
103.0
111.8
120.2
128.1
135.3
141.7
94.0
1.09
1.26
1.44
1.63
1.81
1.94
2.05
2.36 2.32
2.71
2.78
2.35
0.92
0.0
20.0
40.0
60.0
80.0
100.0
120.0
140.0
160.0
1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030 2035 2040
Note: Data after 2000 are Population Projections (Medium Assumption, NRR=1 by 2040)
P
o
p
u
l
a
t
i
o
n

(
i
n

m
i
l
l
i
o
n
s
)
0.0
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
2.5
3.0
P
o
p
u
l
a
t
i
o
n

G
r
o
w
t
h

R
a
t
e

(
i
n

p
e
r
c
e
n
t
)
PGR
(right axis)

Source: Population census data in various years and official population projections Available from
http://www.nscb.gov.ph/secstat/d_popn.asp (accessed 13 March 2006)

This pattern follows closely the slow decline in the countrys total fertility rate (TFR)
over the same period while mortality has already settled at a low level given in
improvements in health care (see Figure 4). The downward trends of the PGR and the
TFR may partly be attributed to the gradual increase in the contraceptive prevalence rate
(CPR) from 15.4 percent of currently married women in 1968 to 48.9 percent in 2003
(Laguna et al, 2000, NSO and ORC Macro 2004). Other possible explanations for such
trends are the relatively weak institutional environment for the Philippine Population
Program, the perceived influence of the Catholic Church on political leaders, and the high
unmet need for family planning and reproductive health services, among others
(POPCOM 2002). On the other hand, the devolution of health services from the national
to the local level in the early 1990s as well as the weak and shifting government policy on
population (Herrin 2003) could have adversely affected population program
implementation and prevented the significant reductions in PGR and TFR.

Figure 4. Total Fertility Rate and Life Expectancy at Birth: Philippines, 1990-
2004
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030 2035 2040
Note: Data after 2000 are Population Projections (MediumAssumption, NRR=1 by 2040)
L
i
f
e

E
x
p
e
c
t
a
n
c
y

a
t

B
i
r
t
h
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
4
4.5
T
o
t
a
l

F
e
r
t
i
l
i
t
y

R
a
t
e
TFR
(right axis)
Life Expectancy at
Birth (Male)
Life Expectancy at
Birth (Female)




Ogena 2006, p.6

The official population projections (medium series) released last month estimated the
countrys population in 2005 to be about 85.3 million and it is expected to further
increase to 141.7 million in 2040 (NSO 2006). Utilized in the 2000 census-based
population projections was the cohort-component method, which specified assumptions
on how levels and trends of fertility, mortality, and migration change during the
projection period (NSCB 2006). For fertility, the projection assumed that NRR=1.0 will
be attained by 2030 for the low series, 2040 for the medium series and 2050 for the high
series. Constructed were life tables for males and females that used the 2000 census
population as base after adjusting for data completeness. The life expectancy at birth
(e
x
0
) values used for the projection periods (2005 -2040) were derived by applying on the
base e
x
0
estimates the middle assumption of the UN Working Model for quinquennial
gains in life expectancy (UN 1989). The migration assumption was set to zero since
international migration was likely to have very little effect on the national total
population.
With about 3.4 babies born per minute in the Philippines in 2000, newborn baby boys
and girls are likely to survive for 63.11 and 69.14 years, respectively, on average (NSCB
2006). However, WHO (2006) estimated that a male and female born in 2002 in the
Philippines have about 57.1 years and 61.5 years of healthy life, respectively, with female
would lose 14.3 percent healthy years at birth compared to 12.4 percent from males.
Hence, expect Filipino women to have longer years of life but also more years in poor
health than males. The projected sex ratios somehow reflect the female s out-surviving
the males.
In 2000, the sex ratio of 101.4 suggests that males still slightly outnumber the
females. While the sex ratios for the youth and working-age populations of the country
were higher than 100 and are expected to continue at this level in the next 40 years, the
females are projected to outnumber the males in the older ages (see Figure 5).
In 2000, there were 63 young and 6 old dependents per 100 persons in economically
productive ages. After adjusting for the recent labor force participation and employment
rates (63.8 percent and 91.9 percent, respectively), a more realistic dependency scenario
suggests that about 180 persons depend for economic support per 100 employed persons
in the Philippines. Simply put, each working person provides for about two dependents,
on average.

Figure 5. Sex Ratios by Age: Philippines, 2000-2040
80.0
85.0
90.0
95.0
100.0
105.0
110.0
2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030 2035 2040
Source: Population Projections (Medium Assumption, NRR=1 by 2040)
S
e
x

R
a
t
i
o
60+
All ages
0-14
15-59




Ogena 2006, p.7

THE DYNAMICS OF POPULATION AGEING
From 3.19 million in1990, the senior citizens in the Philippines increased to 4.59
million in 2000. The decadal average annual (exponential) growth rate of 3.64 percent of
the population 60 years and over went up from the 2.26 percent growth rate recorded
during the previous decade. Hence, the older population is growing faster than the total
population of the Philippines. If the countrys total population is already rapidly growing,
then the myth that population ageing in the Philippines is low and slow is not true and
therefore doubling time is shorter for the older population than for the total population.
The medium series of the population projection indicates that senior citizens with be 10
percent of the Philippine population by 2030, with the female population attaining such
proportion five years earlier than the male population (see Appendix A). The projected
sex ratio of the population 60 years or higher would continue to be lower than 100, with
female dominance increasing by age (see Figure 6).

Figure 6. Sex Ratios of Filipino Senior Citizens by Age
60.0
65.0
70.0
75.0
80.0
85.0
90.0
95.0
100.0
2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030 2035 2040
Source: Population Projections (Medium Assumption, NRR=1 by 2040)
S
e
x

R
a
t
i
o 80+
70-79
60-69 60+

However, population ageing is also happening in various geopolitical areas of the
country. Figure 7 reveals that the National Capital Region (NCR) and the Ilocos Region
will have 10 percent of their population in the 60 years and over category by 2020.
Regional data also revealed that the female population would reach such proportion
earlier than the males. The female senior citizen population of Ilocos Region would reach
ten percent by 2015 in contrast to 2025 for its male population.

Figure 7. Regional Variation in Attaining 10 Percent of the 60 years and over
population: Philippines, 2000-2040
NCR
Ilocos Region
Cagayan Valley
Central Luzon
Western VIsayas
Central Visayas
CALABARZON
MIMAROPA
Eastern Visayas
Bicol Region
Southern Mindanao
PHILIPPINES
Western Mindanao
Northern Mindanao
Central Mindanao
CAR Caraga
ARMM
2015
2020
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045



Ogena 2006, p.8

The population ageing process varies not only by sex and region but also by province.
Moreover, the year when a province starts to have at least 10 percent belonging to the 60
and over age group may not be immediately be mirrored at the regional level. Five
provinces already counted in the 2000 census at least 10 percent of their population in this
age category (see Appendix B). These provinces are Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte of
Region I Ilocos Region, Batanes of REGION II - Cagayan Valley, Siquijor of REGION
VII - Central Visayas, and Southern Leyte of REGION VIII - Eastern Visayas.
Moreover, the regions where they belong to would attain the 10 percent regional
population mark by 2020, 2025, 2025, and 2035, respectively. This suggests that while
local government units (LGUs) in smaller geopolitical units such as provinces, cities, and
municipalities would have to be more receptive of the demographic changes occurring in
their localities inasmuch as the national and regional population ageing could occur much
later. This explains why the national and regional governments could initially be
impervious to demographic shifts and their attendant consequences. Hence provinces,
cities and municipalities should be more in tune with and responsive to changes in their
own demographic processes and outcomes.
Another aspect of the population ageing process is the changing balance between age
groups. Over the last half of the twentieth century, the proportion of children (0-14 years
old) in the world dropped from 34 per cent in 1950 to 30 percent in 2000. But the
proportions of aged persons increased so that by 2050 the UN (2001) projected that the
share of persons aged 60 or over in the population will match that of persons younger
than 15 (about 21 per cent each). The Philippines has likewise experienced such a shift in
age structure. From 45.7 percent in 1970, the proportion of the population less than 15
was down to 37 percent in 2000, an 8.6 percentage point decline over a 30-year period.
However, the 2000-based official population projection of the Philippines (medium
series) reveals a larger percentage increment in the 60 years and over (7.9 percent) than in
the economically productive ages (5.7 percent) by end of the projection period (2040) as
shown in Figure 8. The larger percentage increase of senior citizens would come from
the 70-79 years and the 80 years and over age groups. These expected shifts in the age
composition of the Philippines would signal a change in the pattern of resource
distribution in aid of averting intergenerational conflicts (Walker 1990 and Jackson 1998
as cited in UN 2001) since demographic ageing could lead to calls for greater attention to
the needs of the growing number of older persons.

Figure 8. Percentage Distribution of Projected Population: Philippines, 2000-
2040 (Medium Assumption: NRR=1 attained by 2040)

B. 60 years and over Population
60-69
70-79
80+
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030 2035 2040
A. Total Population
0-14
15-59
60+
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030 2035 2040


Ogena 2006, p.9

The ageing index, which is calculated as the ratio of those 60 years or older to those
less than 15 years old, provides a commonly used measure for assessing this process. The
ageing index of the Philippines increased from 10 senior citizens per hundred children
less than 15 years old in 1970 to 16 per hundred in 2000. The medium series of the
Philippine population projection indicates a nearly fourfold increase of the ageing index
by the end of the projection period (see Figure 9). This means that by 2040, there will be
almost two persons aged 60 or over for every three children under 15 years in the Philippines.
Hence, there may be a need to reassess the long-term care options for the growing population
of older persons, and the optimal resource distribution in view of the shift in the young-
old balance of the countrys population.

Figure 9. Actual and Projected Ageing Index and Potential Support Ratio:
Philippines, 1970-2004
0.00
10.00
20.00
30.00
40.00
50.00
60.00
70.00
1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030 2035 2040
Actual
Ageing
Index
Projected
Ageing
Index
Potential
Support
Ratio


Since support at older ages is a common motive for sustained high fertility in
developing countries, often used to measure the potential elderly support requirements in
a society is the old-age dependency ratio. The working age population is assumed to
provide either direct or indirect support to the youth and the elderly through the family,
religious or communal institutions, or even the State. Hence, the dependency ratio is a
rough estimate of the burden of dependency and is useful indicator of trends in the level
of potential support needs.
The total dependency ratio in the Philippines would decline as children below age 15
decreases and senior citizens increases. There will also be a profound shift in the
composition of the total dependency ratio: the share of the old-age component would rise
from 9 percent to 29 percent from 2000 to 2040 (see Figure 10), which is almost triple
within the next 40 years.

Figure 10. Young and Old-age Dependency Ratios: Philippines, 2000-2040
Projected Population: Medium Series)
63
58
53
50
47
44
41
38
35
6
7
7
8
9
10
11
13
14
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030 2035 2040
old
young



Ogena 2006, p.10

An alternative way of expressing the numerical relationship between those more
likely to be economically productive and those more likely to be dependents is the
potential support ratio (PSR). PSR is the inverse of the old-age dependency ratio, that is,
the number of people in the working ages of 15-64 years per person 65 or older. Figure
10 shows that in the Philippines the PSR of 15 in 2000 would drop to seven by 2040.
This means there were 15 persons in working-ages who provided support to one senior
citizen in 2000.
In 2040, there would be seven persons in working ages that will support one older
person. This is a 55 per cent reduction in the potential support ratio over the next 40
years. There is larger regional variability in PSR in 2000 than the expected scenario in
2040. Despite the regional variation in the initial and final PSR, the general pattern is a
reduction of PSR in all regions between 2000 and 2004 (Table 1). The top three regions
with the largest percentage reduction in PSR over the next 40 years are NCR, ARMM,
CALABARZON, and Davao.
PSR also varies by province as shown in Appendix C. Again, provincial population
ageing alert signals are not reflected immediately in regional population scenarios.
Hence, LGUs that monitor closely their respective demographic indicators would be
better able to design local policy responses and initiatives to address population ageing.

Table 1. Potential Support Ratio by Year and Region, 2000-2004
Region 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030 2035 2040
Percent
Decline

PHILIPPINES 15 15 14 13 12 10 9 8 7 55

National Capital Region 23 19 17 14 11 9 7 6 5 78
Cordillera Administrative
Region 14 14 15 14 13 11 9 8 8 46
Region I - Ilocos 11 11 11 10 10 9 8 7 7 38
Region II - Cagayan
Valley 14 14 14 13 11 10 8 7 7 53
Region III - Central Luzon 16 15 15 13 11 9 8 7 6 62
Region IVA - Calabarzon 17 17 16 14 12 10 8 7 6 65
Region IVB - MIMAROPA 15 15 15 14 13 11 10 10 9 39
Region V - Bicol 12 13 13 12 11 10 10 9 9 31
Region VI - Western
Visayas 12 12 11 11 10 9 8 8 7 37
Region VII - Central
Visayas 12 12 12 12 11 10 9 8 7 41
Region VIII - Eastern
Visayas 11 11 12 11 11 10 10 9 9 19
Region IX - Zamboanga
Peninsula 18 17 17 17 16 15 14 14 13 25
Region X - Northern
Mindanao 17 16 16 15 13 11 9 8 8 56
Region XI - Davao 18 17 16 15 12 10 9 7 7 64
Region XII -
Soccsksargen 20 19 18 16 14 12 10 9 8 60
ARMM 30 27 23 20 17 15 13 12 10 66
Caraga 15 14 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 46
Note: The potential support ratio is the inverse of the old-age dependency ratio. It is calculated as
the number of people in the working ages of 15-64 per every person 65 or older.


Ogena 2006, p.11


Another important issue is that, as the Philippine population gets older will the older
persons be healthy and enjoys life as they age? The latest World Health Organization
(WHO) estimate of Healthy Life Expectancy (HALE) revealed that Filipino males who
were 60 years or over in 2002 would have about 10.6 years more of good health while
females would have 12.1 years more. The females slight edge over males in healthy life
expectancy is offset by the formers higher expectation of lost healthy years: 8 years for
males and 10.2 for females. On average, poor health takes away 12.4 years and 14.3
years from the life expectancy at birth of males and females, respectively. Moreover, the
WHO (2002) projection of the number of people requiring daily care in the Philippines
will nearly triple by 2050 based on two severest Global Burden of Disease study
disability categories (i.e., levels 6 and 7). The share of the 60 years and over age group
among the population requiring daily care would increase from 18.2 percent in 2000 to
42.2 percent in 2050.
These have direct implications on the family that has traditionally been and still is the
major provider of care in the Philippines. With the rising health care requirements
associated with the rapidly increasing population of older persons, the attendant spiraling
cost of health care and poverty, some form of assistance to families with elderly members
have to be incorporated in the design of programs for the older persons. Inasmuch as the
burden of care giving primarily rests on women family members who are increasingly
joining the flow of migrant workers in foreign countries, surrogate family caregivers who
would be willing to take on the daily task of elderly care also need guidance, support and
skills to manage often-complex and long-term care.

SOCIAL AND CULTURAL CHANGES
In a developing country like the Philippines, the quality of life of older persons
depends largely on the family support system. The family and the home are pivotal
points of exchange of support and care among older and younger generations. Is there a
change in the role of older persons within the family? Earlier studies have shown that
there is little evidence of change in the social position of the elderly as they age in terms
of standard of living, familial interaction and support, or health services (Casterline et al.
1991). Based on focus group discussion data, however, Williams and Domingo (1992)
have found that being better off in terms of health, frequency of social contacts and
financial independence enables older persons to have more influence in family decisions.
Recent research updates on these would be helpful in documenting shifts in elderly role in
Filipino family dynamics, especially in family decision-making.
The Filipino family as the building block of the nation appears resilient despite
transformative forces in its own core. Children continue to symbolize love and joy that
keep families together but marriage (i.e., the social institution that brings families into
being) seems to be in a flux. Data suggest that traditional norms of early and universal
marriage are eroding. Males and females in the Philippines are delaying their entry into
marriage. The singulate mean age at marriage (SMAM) or the number of years spent at
singlehood has increased from 25 years for males and 22 for females in 1960 (Gultiano
and Xenos 1992) to 26 years for males and 24 years for females in 2000 (Williams ,
Kabamalan and Ogena 2001). On the other hand, the males are catching up with the
females in not marrying as the gender gap in the proportion who never married at age 45-
49 years declined over the same time period. The proportion for males has nearly
doubled (i.e., from 3.2 percent in 1960 to 5.6 percent in 2000), while for females the


Ogena 2006, p.12

proportion slightly declined from 7.1 percent in 1960 to 6.1 percent in 2000. Cohabiting
unions among young Filipinos also increased between 1994 and 2002 with frequent
media portrayals of cohabiting couples challenging the more conservative positions
against the practice (Kabamalan 2004). If these changes in nuptiality in the Philippines
continue in the next decades and be large enough, Costello and Casterline (2002) suspect
a downward pressure on Philippine fertility as what happened in many parts of the world.
In turn, this could further speed up the population ageing process as mortality level has
flattened at a quite low level due to improvements in health care and hygiene.
Marital instability and spousal separation also strike at the foundations of the Filipino
family. There is no divorce law in the Philippines so marriage when formalized binds a
man and woman for life. Many married couples, especially those with children, remain
together despite marital troubles for the sake of the family. As expected therefore is the
rather low level of marital dissolution in the country although a slight increase was noted
during the 1990s (Costello and Casterline 2002). Despite lack of a divorce option, a
married couple who wish to break away legally from a marital partner may choose
annulment of marriage, which of course has corresponding social, temporal, and financial
costs. Nevertheless, this option has become quite popular recently not just for the upper
but also for middle classes. Again, media appears to play a large part in having this
included as an option in the lifestyle change of married couples in the country along with
changes in peoples attitudes and behavior regarding marriage and family formation.
Perhaps more of a challenge to marital stability is the temporary spousal separation
due to overseas work of a marital partner. As of December 2004, there were 8.08 million
Filipinos overseas, with nearly half (44.52 percent) on temporary work contract abroad
(see Figure 11). The average annual deployment of OFWs during the period 2000-2005
was 897 thousand (POEA 2006). OFW remittances increased from US$6.03 billion in
2001 to US$10.69 in 2005 (BSP 2006). Documented economic gains from these
remittances abroad have benefited many families and the country as a whole but
providing mechanisms to channel remittances to productive investments is a continuing
challenge.

Figure 11. Stock Estimate of Overseas Filipinos, As Of Dec. 2004

PERMANENT
3.2 million
IRREGULAR
1.3 million
TEMPORARY
3.6 million

Source: Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO). Stock Estimate of Overseas Filipinos. Available from
http://www.poea.gov.ph/docs/STOCK%20ESTIMATE%202004.xls (Accessed on 26 May 2006).

A provisional survival mechanism for some families may have long-term effect for
example on family unity, gender roles, and timing of individual life courses, among
others. An apparent implication of the OFW phenomenon on the older persons is their
increased involvement in childcare. With a parent OFW absent, the role of grandparents
in rearing their grandchildren increases in a close knit family system like in the
Philippines. In a two-parent OFW situation, older persons become surrogate parents,


Ogena 2006, p.13

which is uncharacteristic of the ideal family life course. Of particular concern is the fact
that the older persons themselves may already need provision of care as a natural course
of physiological ageing.
A direct implication of the OFW phenomenon on the older persons is the uncertain
prospects of elderly health care. With the declining sex ratio of OFWs, both for
permanent and temporary migration, the pool of traditional elderly caregivers, i.e.
daughters, and the growing exodus of professional nurses and other health professionals
from the country to more developed countries with advance ageing populations ,
prospects for long-term elderly health care is becoming nebulous.
Another important phenomenon that affects the elderly in the Philippines is the
increasing number of intercultural marriages. As young adults attain higher education
and work experience, their social network expands and is their exposure to nontraditional
marriage markets like overseas work experience, marriage bureaus, internet chats, SMS
texting, etc. While allocation of roles, expectations, and responsibilities within the family
would be more apparent if marital partners were of the same culture, marrying someone
from another culture could tear down cultural conventions that sustain the respect,
support and care older members of the family by the younger generation.
Even in an intra-cultural marital setting, the presence of an elderly in the household
could generate conflicts not only between the elderly and other family members but also
between family members. Nonetheless, children or perhaps other relatives should take
care of the elderly appears to be the norm. With increasingly prevalent modern lifestyles
in a globalizing era, young and old Filipinos perceive that putting the elderly in a home
for the aged is unnatural if the person had children or other family members and that
having a large family does not guarantee that they would be cared for by their children
(Domingo et al. 1993).
In summary, the family is still the main support system of older persons in the
Philippines but the traditional support mechanisms are slackening due to declining family
size, delay in entry to marriage of the younger generation, intercultural marriages, marital
instability and spousal separation, overseas work migration, and western influences,
among others. Nevertheless, Filipino children remain the caretakers and providers of
support to their aging parents and not expected to fade easily is the constancy of filial
support of children to parents (Perez 1999).

LEGAL FRAMEWORK AND POLICY RESPONSES
In recognition of the family as the basic unit of society, the Constitution of the
Republic of the Philippines recognizes the familys duty to take care of elderly members
but the State may also do so through just programs of social security (RP 1987). The
needs of older persons, among others, are included in the priority list when designing and
implementing integrated and comprehensive programs that would make essential goods,
health, and other social services available to all the people at affordable cost.
The Philippine Constitution and three enacted laws since 1992 recognize the positive
role of older persons in society. The objectives of the first piece of legislation for older
persons in the Philippines, i.e., Republic Act (RA) No. 7432, are to motivate and
encourage the senior citizens to contribute to nation building and to encourage their
families and communities they live with to reaffirm the valued Filipino tradition of caring
for their senior citizens. This law granted the following privileges to senior citizens (RA
7432, Section IV):


Ogena 2006, p.14

a) The grant of twenty percent (20 percent) discount from all
establishments relative to utilization of transportation services, hotels
and similar lodging establishment, restaurants and recreation centers
and purchase of medicines anywhere in the country: Provided, That
private establishments may claim the cost as tax credit;
b) A minimum of twenty percent (20 percent) discount on admission fees
charged by theaters, cinema houses and concert halls, circuses,
carnivals and other similar places of culture, leisure, and amusements;
c) Exemption from the payment of individual income taxes: Provided,
That their annual taxable income does not exceed the poverty level as
determined by the National Economic and Development Authority
(NEDA) for that year;
d) Exemption from training fees for socioeconomic programs undertaken
by the OSCA as part of its work;
e) Free medical and dental services in government establishment
anywhere in the country, subject to guidelines to be issued by the
Department of Health, the Government Service Insurance System and
the Social Security System;
f) To the extent practicable and feasible, the continuance of the same
benefits and privileges given by the Government Service Insurance
System (GSIS), Social Security System (SSS) and PAG-IBIG, as the
case may be, as are enjoyed by those in actual service.
In 1995, passed was RA 7876 or the "Senior Citizens Center Act of the Philippines"
which established senior citizens centers in every city and municipality of country. The
centers serve as venues for the delivery of integrated and comprehensive services to older
persons. The organizations of older persons manage these centers with the support of the
local and national governments.
Based on the Vienna Plan of Action on Ageing and the Macao Plan of Action on
Ageing for Asia and the Pacific, the Philippines adopted the Philippine Plan of Action for
Older Persons in 1999. The plan of action addresses eight major areas of concern:
namely, older persons and the family; social position of older persons; health and
nutrition; housing, transportation and environment; income security, maintenance, and
employment; social services and the community; continuing education/learning; and,
older persons and the market.
The most recent law passed (RA 9257) known as the "Expanded Senior Citizens Act
of 2003" grants additional benefits and privileges to senior citizens without qualifying
whether not they earn less than P60,000, which was a prerequisite under the old law. The
full implementation of these laws, however, would benefit millions of senior citizens but
complains abound regarding rampant violation of seniors discounts by operating
establishments especially in rural areas. Moreover, many of the older persons are neither
aware of the existence of the laws nor of the mechanisms to enable them to availing of
such benefits. But even if they are aware and knowledgeable of these mechanisms,
limitations in older peoples mobility could prevent them from acquiring required
documentation to prove that they are qualified for the discounts and much more in
availing themselves of the senior citizen discounts due them. Again, the OFW
phenomenon contributes in preventing the trickle down effect of benefits to senior
citizens especially in the rural areas. With the absence of children and no surrogates who
could assist the older persons, the benefits from existing laws remain to be fulfilled.
Nevertheless, Philippine legislators continue to work on policy reforms that would
further improve the conditions of senior citizens in the country. Pending bills in the


Ogena 2006, p.15

House of Representatives and the Senate include the following, among others: local
governance representation of senior citizens; increase the discount privileges enjoyed by
senior citizens to all establishments; lowering of retirement age of teachers; protection
from institutional, community and domestic violence and sexual assault; and expansion of
the discount benefit from just prescribed medicines to cover all types of medicines (see
Appendix D). Except for the proposed lowering of retirement age of teachers, the other
pending bills may put less strain on government coffers. While 55 years may be
considered as appropriate for optional early retirement, the increasing life expectancy of
males and females and the growing number of older people in the country suggest that the
proportion of national resources to be allocated to retirement benefits is expected to
increase over time. Hence, rather than reduce the age of retirement, prospects of
increasing it may be more economically rational, as what advanced European countries
with large elderly population are currently considering. Another issue is whether
retirement age should be legislated in view of significant age-structural shifts anticipated
in the next decades.

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
The age distribution of the Philippine population is youthful with the small fertility
reduction, a significant increase in life expectancy and large labor outflows during the
past thirty years but its population of 60 years and over will in due course increase at a
rate faster than the total population. Population ageing, although still at its infancy, has to
be addressed early on as social, economic, cultural, and environmental transformations
are also occurring. Hence, policies addressing the older population should be
synchronous with macro development policies in aid of ultimately improving individual
welfare and intergenerational equity. How to create a balance is crucial as increasing
needs of the growing older population becomes more evident in time.
Smaller geopolitical units like cities and provinces will experience the pressure earlier
than their regions and the nation as a whole. Recommended for inclusion in LGU
development indicators monitoring are basic demographic variables including the sex
ratio, youth, and old age dependency ratios, population-ageing index, and potential
support ratio, among others.
In a developing country economy like the Philippines, a family may be willing to
volunteer or sacrifice a member of the family in productive age to provide elderly care of
another family member. Trade offs in terms of a career trajectory, earnings, and
productivity potential and social capital of the caretaker could increase as age disparity
between the caretaker and the elderly increases. However, the traditional caretakers of
older family members, i.e., daughters, have increasingly joined the plight to work
overseas in search of better economic opportunities. Their remittances ensure their
households from getting into poverty spells and the country financially afloat through
keeping a health balance of payments.
In addition, the cost of medicines for an older member of the family/household, which
is priced 5 to 45 times higher than the same medicines sold in India or Pakistan (Global
Action on Aging 2006) and generally more than four times the resource needs of a
growing child, could even multiply over time as her/his health condition deteriorates.
Hence, insufficient family income may sacrifice an elderly health need in favor of a
requirement of a child member. In a culture where children are cherished being the
source of joy, unity, and old-age security, families that have elderly members could be
faced with crucial intergenerational resource allocation decisions that may not favor the


Ogena 2006, p.16

older persons.
Moreover, home care needs are expected to grow as number of older persons
increases. Home care for the elderly is still the top option as findings from the two
studies revealed deficiencies in energy and protein intake among older persons with those
cared for by government social workers and care-givers had the lowest protein-energy
intakes and the highest proportion of underweight (Pedro and Barba 2001). But families
may not have the means or knowledge to carry the care giving responsibility and work
especially if an elderly has disability. Hence, there is a need for a community support
system that would cater to these families with senior citizens. While retirement homes
are not that prevalent in the country, LGUs with at least 10 percent of their population
belonging to ages 60 or more may wish to consider immediately the establishment of
community-based health and social services for the elderly plus provision of training and
support for caretakers providing elderly care at their homes. Hence, senior citizens
centers could initiate these in each city or municipality. LGU support, on the other hand,
may be in the form of mobilizing business enterprises to conform to the senior citizen
discounts in accordance with law. In the earlier review, laws are in place to preserve
time-honored ways of life in the Philippines. However, implementation of these laws is
pitiful.
For now, the Filipino family seems resilient in the face of significant demographic,
social and economic changes in the recent past. However, with rapid population growth
and ageing, the population balance (Lutz et al. 2004) in the Philippines is at a critical
stage for sustainable development objectives. Imperative are social equity concerns for
the growing elderly population yet human capital formation for the youth are crucial in
ensuring better future prospects. In the context of fast deteriorating natural resources,
future research should involve simulations that could form as bases for selecting the
appropriate mix of these factors towards a desirable population balance.


Ogena 2006, p.17

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Ogena 2006, p.20

Appendix A. Projected Population of Senior Citizens attains 10 percent of Regional Population by Year and Sex

SEX 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030 2035 2040
BOTH NCR Cagayan Valley PHI LI PPINES Eastern Visayas MIMAROPA
Ilocos Region Central Luzon CAR ARMM
CALABARZON Bicol Region
Western VIsayas Northern Mindanao
Central Visayas Central Mindanao
Southern Mindanao Caraga
MALES NCR PHI LI PPINES Caraga Bicol Region
Ilocos Region CAR Eastern Visayas
Cagayan Valley Western VIsayas
Central Luzon Central Visayas
CALABARZON Northern Mindanao
Southern Mindanao
FEMALES Ilocos Region NCR PHI LI PPINES Eastern Visayas MIMAROPA ARMM
Cagayan Valley CAR Central Mindanao
Central Luzon Bicol Region
CALABARZON Northern Mindanao
Western VIsayas Southern Mindanao
Central Visayas Caraga
Source: The author based this table on the officially released Medium Assumption Projection of Population by Age, Sex and Province from the NSO and NSCB.


Ogena 2006, p.21

Appendix B. Provinces with at least 10 percent Projected Population of Senior Citizens by Year of attainment and Region
REGION 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030 2035 2040
REGION I - Ilocos Region
Ilocos Norte,
Ilocos Sur La Union Pangasinan
REGION II - Cagayan Valley Batanes
Cagayan, Nueva
Vizcaya
REGION III - Central Luzon
Nueva Ecija,
Pampanga,
Tarlac, Zambales Bataan, Bulacan Aurora
REGION IV CALABARZON
Batangas,
Laguna
Cavite, Quezon,
Rizal
REGION IV - MIMAROPA Marinduque
Oriental
Mindoro
Occidental
Mindoro
REGION V - Bicol Region Albay
Camarines Norte,
Camarines Sur
Catanduanes,
Sorsogon
REGION VI - Western
VIsayas Iloilo
Aklan, Capiz,
Guimaraz, Negros
Occidental Antique
REGION VII - Central
Visayas Siquijor Bohol
Cebu, Negros
Oriental
REGION VIII - Eastern
Visayas
Southern
Leyte Biliran, Leyte
Eastern
Samar
REGION IX - Western
Mindanao
Zamboanga Del
Norte
REGION X - Northern
Mindanao
Misamis
Occidental
Camiguin, Misamis
Oriental Lanao Del Norte Bukidnon
REGION XI - Southern
Mindanao
Davao, Davao Del
Sur, Davao Oriental Compostella Valley
REGION XII - Central
Mindanao Cotabato City South Cotabato
Cotabato,
Sultan
Kudarat Sarangani
Cordillera Administrative
Region Abra Benguet Apayao Mt. Province
Ifugao,
Kalinga
Autonomous Region in
Muslim Mindanao Sulu
Maguindanao
, Tawi-Tawi
Caraga Surigao Del Norte
Agusan Del Norte,
Surigao Del Sur
Agusan Del
Sur
Source: The author based this table on the officially released Medium Assumption Projection of Population by Age, Sex and Province from the NSO and NSCB.


Ogena 2006, p.22

Appendix C. Potential Support Ratio by Year, Region and Province, 2000-2004

GEOGRAPHIC UNIT

2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030 2035 2040
Percent
reduction
between 2000
and 2004

PHI LI PPINES 15 15 14 13 12 10 9 8 7 55

NATIONAL CAPI TAL REGI ON 23 19 17 14 11 9 7 6 5 78
CORDILLERA ADMINISTRATIVE
REGI ON 14 14 15 14 13 11 9 8 8 46
ABRA 9 10 11 11 10 9 8 7 7 27
APAYAO 16 14 15 14 13 12 10 9 8 51
BENGUET 19 18 17 15 13 10 9 8 7 63
IFUGAO 13 14 15 16 15 13 11 10 9 25
KALINGA 16 15 15 15 14 12 11 10 9 41
MT. PROVINCE 10 11 12 13 13 12 10 10 9 14
REGI ON I - I LOCOS 11 11 11 10 10 9 8 7 7 38
ILOCOS NORTE 9 9 10 9 8 8 7 6 5 39
ILOCOS SUR 9 10 10 10 9 8 7 6 6 35
LA UNION 11 11 12 11 10 9 8 7 7 39
PANGASINAN 12 12 12 11 10 9 8 8 7 40
REGI ON I I - CAGAYAN VALLEY 14 14 14 13 11 10 8 7 7 53
BATANES 8 10 12 10 11 11 10 8 7 11
CAGAYAN 12 12 13 12 11 9 8 8 7 39
ISABELA 16 15 15 13 11 9 8 7 6 61
NUEVA VIZCAYA 15 15 15 14 12 10 9 8 7 52
QUIRINO 17 16 16 15 12 10 8 7 6 64
REGI ON I I I - CENTRAL LUZON 16 15 15 13 11 9 8 7 6 62
AURORA 16 16 16 15 13 12 10 9 9 44
BATAAN 17 17 17 14 12 9 8 7 6 64
BULACAN 17 17 16 14 12 10 8 7 6 64
NUEVA ECIJ A 14 14 13 12 11 9 8 7 6 58
PAMPANGA 16 15 14 12 11 9 8 7 6 64
TARLAC 14 13 13 12 10 9 8 6 6 58
ZAMBALES 15 15 14 12 10 9 8 7 6 60


Ogena 2006, p.23

Appendix C. Potential Support Ratio by Year, Region and Province, 2000-2004 (Continuation)
GEOGRAPHIC UNIT

2000 2005 2010 201
5
2020 2025 2030 203
5
204
0
Percent
reduction
between 2000
and 2004

REGI ON I VA - CALABARZON 17 17 16 14 12 10 8 7 6 65
BATANGAS 13 13 13 12 10 9 8 7 6 54
CAVITE 19 18 18 15 13 10 9 7 6 68
LAGUNA 19 18 17 14 12 9 8 7 6 70
QUEZON 15 14 14 13 11 10 9 8 7 52
RIZAL 24 21 19 15 12 9 8 6 6 76
REGION IVB - MIMAROPA 15 15 15 14 13 11 10 10 9 39
MARINDUQUE 11 11 11 10 10 9 9 9 9 18
OCCIDENTAL MINDORO 18 17 16 14 13 12 10 10 9 49
ORIENTAL MINDORO 16 16 15 14 13 11 10 9 9 45
PALAWAN 19 18 17 16 14 13 11 11 10 47
ROMBLON 11 11 11 11 11 11 10 10 10 9
REGION V - BICOL 12 13 13 12 11 10 10 9 9 31
ALBAY 12 12 13 12 11 10 9 8 8 36
CAMARINES NORTE 15 15 15 14 12 11 9 8 8 46
CAMARINES SUR 13 13 13 12 11 10 9 9 8 35
CATANDUANES 9 9 10 11 11 11 10 10 9 -5
MASBATE 13 13 13 13 12 11 11 10 10 22
SORSOGON 12 12 12 12 11 10 10 9 9 23
REGI ON VI - WESTERN VI SAYAS 12 12 11 11 10 9 8 8 7 37
AKLAN 10 11 11 11 10 10 9 9 8 18
ANTIQUE 9 10 11 11 11 10 10 9 9 4
CAPIZ 12 12 12 11 10 10 9 8 8 33
GUIMARAS 11 12 12 12 11 10 9 8 8 31
ILOILO 10 11 11 10 9 9 8 7 7 36
NEGROS OCCIDENTAL 14 13 12 12 10 9 9 8 7 47
REGI ON VII - CENTRAL VI SAYAS 12 12 12 12 11 10 9 8 7 41
BOHOL 9 10 10 10 10 9 8 8 7 27
CEBU 14 14 14 13 11 10 9 8 7 48
NEGROS ORIENTAL 13 12 12 12 11 10 9 8 8 38
SIQUIJ OR 7 8 8 8 8 8 7 7 7 5


Ogena 2006, p.24

Appendix C. Potential Support Ratio by Year, Region and Province, 2000-2004 (Continuation)
GEOGRAPHIC UNIT

2000 2005 2010 201
5
2020 2025 2030 203
5
204
0
Percent
reduction
between 2000
and 2004

REGION VIII - EASTERN VISAYAS 11 11 12 11 11 10 10 9 9 19
BILIRAN 10 10 11 11 11 10 10 9 9 6
EASTERN SAMAR 9 10 11 11 11 11 11 10 10 -8
LEYTE 12 12 12 11 11 10 9 9 8 31
NORTHERN SAMAR 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 11 11 13
SAMAR 12 12 13 13 13 12 12 11 10 12
SOUTHERN LEYTE 9 9 10 9 9 9 8 8 8 15
REGION IX - ZAMBOANGA PENINSULA 18 17 17 17 16 15 14 14 13 25
ISABELA CITY 18 21 19 21 20 19 20 20 20 -8
ZAMBOANGA DEL NORTE 16 15 14 13 12 11 9 9 8 50
ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR 18 18 18 18 18 18 18 18 18 0
ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY 19 18 19 18 19 18 19 19 19 0
REGI ON X - NORTHERN MI NDANAO 17 16 16 15 13 11 9 8 8 56
BUKIDNON 21 19 19 17 15 12 11 10 9 57
CAMIGUIN 10 10 10 10 10 10 9 8 8 17
LANAO DEL NORTE 21 19 19 16 13 11 9 8 7 65
MISAMIS OCCIDENTAL 12 11 11 11 10 9 8 7 7 42
MISAMIS ORIENTAL 17 16 16 14 12 10 9 8 7 58
REGI ON XI - DAVAO 18 17 16 15 12 10 9 7 7 64
DAVAO 18 18 17 15 12 10 8 7 6 64
DAVAO DEL SUR 19 17 17 14 12 10 8 7 6 67
DAVAO ORIENTAL 16 15 14 13 12 10 9 8 8 53
COMPOSTELA VALLEY 19 18 17 16 14 11 10 8 7 60
REGION XII - SOCCSKSARGEN 20 19 18 16 14 12 10 9 8 60
COTABATO CITY 26 23 20 16 13 10 8 7 6 77
COTABATO 18 17 17 15 13 12 10 9 8 53
SARANGANI 22 20 19 17 15 13 12 10 9 58
SOUTH COTABATO 21 20 18 16 14 12 10 9 8 63
SULTAN KUDARAT 21 20 19 17 15 13 11 9 9 58


Ogena 2006, p.25

Appendix C. Potential Support Ratio by Year, Region and Province, 2000-2004 (Continuation)
GEOGRAPHIC UNIT

2000 2005 2010 201
5
2020 2025 2030 2035 2040
Percent reduction
between 2000 and
2004

ARMM 30 27 23 20 17 15 13 12 10 66
BASILAN (excl. Isabela City) 23 23 23 23 23 23 22 23 22 1
LANAO DEL SUR 29 26 23 21 18 16 14 13 12 60
MAGUINDANAO 31 27 23 19 17 14 13 11 10 69
SULU 30 26 21 17 15 13 11 9 8 74
TAWI-TAWI 35 30 25 21 17 15 13 11 10 72
CARAGA 15 14 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 46
AGUSAN DEL NORTE 15 15 14 13 12 11 9 8 8 49
AGUSAN DEL SUR 20 19 18 17 15 13 11 10 9 55
SURIGAO DEL NORTE 12 12 11 11 10 9 9 8 8 38
SURIGAO DEL SUR 14 14 13 12 11 10 9 9 8 43
Notes:
1. The potential support ratio is the inverse of the old-age dependency ratio. It is calculated as the number of people in the working ages of 15-64 per every
person 65 or older.
2. Estimates were calculated by the author based on the 2000 Census of Population by Age, Sex and Province.


Ogena 2006, p.26

Appendix D. Pending Bills at the Philippine Senate and House of Representatives
CODE
PRINCIPAL
AUTHOR (s)
FULL TITLE SHORT TITLE ABSTRACT
HB0358
HB1489
BARINAGA,
ROSELLER L.
ABAYON, HARLIN
CAST
AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE APPOINTMENT
OF A REPRESENTATION FROM THE SENIOR
CITIZEN SECTOR IN EVERY SANGGUNIANG
BARANGAY, SANGGUNIANG BAYAN,
SANGGUNIANG PANLUNSOD AND
SANGGUNIANG PANLALAWIGAN

While the Local Government Code provided for
representation of the youth in every sanggunian from
the barangay to the provincial levels, it omitted to
include the elderly or senior citizens. Now numbering
about 14.5 million, this bill provides for the appointment
of a representative from the senior citizen sector in
every sangguniang barangay, sangguniang bayan,
sangguniang panlunsod and sangguniang panlalawigan.
HB0297
HB0363
LAPUS, J ESLI A.
BARINAGA,
ROSELLER L.
AN ACT PROVIDING FOR ADDITIONAL
BENEFITS TO SENIOR CITIZENS AMENDING
FOR THE PURPOSE RA 7432

This bill seeks to provide additional benefits to senior
citizens by granting them a 20 percent discount on
purchases of funeral services (on a pre-need basis) to
lessen the burden on the family left behind when the
elderly passes on. It proposes the establishment of the
Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) at the office
of the Governor and city Mayor to be headed by a
provincial board member and a city councilor,
respectively.
HB0362
BARINAGA,
ROSELLER L.
AN ACT AMENDING RA 7432, OTHERWISE
KNOWN AS 'AN ACT TO MAXIMIZE THE
CONTRIBUTION OF SENIOR CITIZENS TO
NATION BUILDING, GRANT BENEFITS AND
SPECIAL PRIVILEGES AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES

This bill seeks to grant additional privileges to senior
citizens by including electric and water utilities and
funeral expenses in the list of items subject to the 20
percent discount privilege. The measure also provides
for the exemption of the family homes of senior citizens
from the payment of real property taxes. It exempts
from the payment of 20 percent withholding tax interest
income derived from the bank deposits of senior
citizens.
HB0813
J OAQUIN,
ULIRAN T.
AN ACT GRANTING SENIOR CITIZENS WHOSE
INCOME IS NOT MORE THAN PHP 120,000.00
PER ANNUM 20% DISCOUNT ON ELECTRICITY,
WATER AND TELEPHONE BILLS, AMENDING
FOR THE PURPOSE SECTIONS 2 AND 4 OF RA
7432

The bill grants senior citizens whose income is less than
P120,000.00 per annum, 20 percent discount on their
electricity, water and telephone bills, amending for the
purpose Sections 2 and 4 of Republic Act No. 7432.
Senior citizens are now in the twilight years of their lives
and most of them, having retired from work, have no
sufficient income to support their families, particularly at
this time when prices of commodities have skyrocketed
beyond the reach of minimum wage earners.


Ogena 2006, p.27


CODE
PRINCIPAL
AUTHOR (s)
FULL TITLE SHORT TITLE ABSTRACT
HB1797
CHIPECO, J USTIN
MARC SB
AN ACT INCREASING PRIVILEGES FOR SENIOR
CITIZENS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE
SECTION FOUR OF RA 7432, OTHERWISE
KNOWN AS "AN ACT TO MAXIMIZE THE
CONTRIBUTION OF SENIOR CITIZENS TO
NATION BUILDING, GRANT BENEFITS AND
SPECIAL PRIVILEGES AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES

The bill seeks to increase the 20 percent discount being
enjoyed by senior citizens to 40 percent.
HB4555
MANGUDADATU,
SUHARTO T.
AN ACT INCREASING THE DISCOUNT
PRIVILEGES FOR SENIOR CITIZENS FROM ALL
ESTABLISHMENTS AMENDING FOR THE
PURPOSE SECTION 4 OF RA 9257, OTHERWISE
KNOWN AS "AN ACT TO MAXIMIZE THE
CONTRIBUTION OF SENIOR CITIZEN TO
NATION BUILDING, GRANT BENEFITS AND
SPECIAL P

The measure seeks to increase the discount rate being
enjoyed by senior citizens from 20 percent to 30 percent.
HB0489 SOLIS, J OSE G.
AN ACT IMPOSING STIFFER PENALTIES ON
PHARMACIES AND DRUG STORES WHICH
REFUSE TO HONOR SENIOR CITIZEN CARD
ISSUED BY THE GOVERNMENT

It has been noted that most pharmacies and drugstores
refuse to grant the 20 percent discount for the purchase of
medicines by the elderly as mandated under RA 7432. Some
drugstores require a written authorization for purchases
made by their representative. This bill seeks to impose
stiffer penalties on pharmacies and drugstores which refuse
to honor the senior citizen card issued by the government to
senior citizens who wish to avail of the benefits and
privileges granted under RA 7432.
HB0646
PUENTEVELLA,
MONICO O.
AN ACT LOWERING THE RETIREMENT AGE FOR
PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS FROM SIXTY
(60)TO FIFTY-FIVE (55) YEARS OLD AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES

Retires a 55-year old public school teacher who has served
for 20 years with all the retirement benefits granted under
existing laws.
HB0783
HB0811
ABAYON, HARLIN
CAST
ABAYON, HARLIN
CAST
AN ACT GRANTING TWENTY PERCENT (20%)
DISCOUNT ON THE PURCHASE OF CELLCARDS
BY A SENIOR CITIZEN WHOSE INCOME IS NOT
MORE THAN ONE HUNDRED TWENTY
THOUSAND PESOS (P120,000.00) PER ANNUM,
AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE RA 7432,
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE 'LAW MAXIMIZIN

The proposed measure seeks to grant a 20 percent discount
on the purchase of prepaid cellcards by a senior citizen
whose annual income does not exceed PhP120,000.00.
Senior citizens, with the use of cellphones, can assist in
minimizing/eliminating criminality in their communities by
informing barangay officials and policemen of any untoward
incident.


Ogena 2006, p.28


CODE
PRINCIPAL
AUTHOR (s)
FULL TITLE SHORT TITLE ABSTRACT
HB0921
CASTELO-DAZA,
NANETTE
AN ACT ESTABLISHING A SENIOR CITIZENS
TECHNOLOGY AND LIVELIHOOD CENTER IN
EVERY BARANGAY AND APPROPRIATING
FUNDS THEREFOR

The bill mandates the Department of Social Welfare and
Development, in coordination with local government units,
to set up Senior Citizens Technology and Livelihood Centers
in every barangay to provide the elderly with new skills and
an opportunity for gainful employment.
HB1404
BARINAGA,
ROSELLER L.
AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR THE MAGNA CARTA
FOR OLDER PERSONS
Magna Carta
for Older
Persons
Magna Carta for Older Persons. The measure establishes the
National Council for the Welfare of Older Persons, under the
Office of the President, to direct all activities for the elderly.
Provides for the rights, privileges, incentives and other
benefits of older persons. Provides for social services,
political and civil rights, transportation privileges, housing
and tax incentives.
HB2109
CUENCO,
ANTONIO V.
AN ACT IMPOSING STIFFER PENALTIES TO
DRUG STORES WHICH REFUSE TO HONOR
SENIOR CITIZEN CARDS ISSUED BY THE
GOVERNMENT FOR AVAILMENT OF BENEFITS
AND PRIVILEGES GRANTED TO SENIOR
CITIZENS

The bill proposes to penalize drug stores, which refuse to
honor the senior citizen's card, with a fine ranging from
P1,000 to P5,000 or imprisonment from one month to six
months.
HB2529
CASTELO-DAZA,
NANETTE
AN ACT DECLARING THE PERIOD FROM MAY 1
TO 7 OF EVERY YEAR AS THE NATIONAL
OLDER WORKERS WEEK

In recognition of the contributions of workers aged 50 years
and above, the bill seeks to declare May 1-7 of every year
as the "National Older Workers Week".
HB2938
AQUINO, J ESUS
REYNALDO B.
AN ACT PROVIDING FOR ADDITIONAL
BENEFITS FOR SENIOR CITIZENS, AMENDING
FOR THIS PURPOSE RA 9257 OTHERWISE
KNOWN AS THE EXPANDED SENIOR CITIZENS
ACT OF 2003
Revised
Expanded
Senior Citizens
Act
The measure amends RA 9257 by granting senior citizen a
20 percent discount on the purchase of doctor-prescribed
unbranded generic medicines and a 5 percent discount only
on doctor-prescribed branded medicines.
HB2970
REYES,
EDMUNDO J R. O.
AN ACT LOWERING THE RETIREMENT AGE OF
EMPLOYEES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF
EDUCATION FROM 65 YEARS OLD TO 60
YEARS OLD
New DepEd
Retirement Age
Act
The bill sets the compulsory retirement age for all
Department of Education teachers and non-teaching
personnel at the age of 60 years.
HB3128
ALCALA,
PROCESO J .
AN ACT PROVIDING FOR A LUMP SUM DEATH
BENEFIT ASSISTANCE TO THE NEAREST
SURVIVING RELATIVES OF A DECEASED
SENIOR CITIZEN IN THE AMOUNT OF FIVE
THOUSAND PESOS (P5,000.00) AS AN
ADDITIONAL BENEFIT

The measure provides for a reasonable death benefit
assistance in the amount of P5,000 to the nearest surviving
relatives of a deceased senior citizen.


Ogena 2006, p.29


CODE
PRINCIPAL
AUTHOR (s)
FULL TITLE SHORT TITLE ABSTRACT
HB3257
PUENTEVELLA,
MONICO O.
AN ACT AMENDING RA 9257 OTHERWISE
KNOWN AS THE EXPANDED SENIOR CITIZENS
ACT 0F 2003
Revised Senior
Citizen Act
The bill grants senior citizens a 20 percent discount for
purchases made from all other food serving/selling
establishments in addition to restaurants. It also entitles
senior citizens to a 20 percent discount for the purchase of
all kinds of medicines, whether prescribed or over-the-
counter. It limits the extension of the discount privilege to
senior citizens with an annual income not exceeding
P100,000.
HB3385
GIDAYA,
ERNESTO S.
AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE PAYMENT OF
THE ADMINISTRATIVE TOTAL DISABILITY
PENSION TO SENIOR VETERANS OF WARS AND
MILITARY CAMPAIGNS

The bill seeks to start the implementation of the
Administrative Total Disability Pension, provided under RA
7696, for all veterans who are at least 70 years old.
SB0115
Luisa Ejercito-
Estrada
AN ACT TO ENSURE THAT OLDER OR
DISABLED PERSONS ARE PROTECTED FROM
INSTITUTIONAL, COMMUNITY AND DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT AND TO
IMPROVE OUTREACH EFFORTS AND OTHER
SERVICES AVAILABLE TO OLDER OR DISABLED
PERSONS VICTIMIZED BY SUCH VIOLENCE
Older Filipinos
Protection from
Violence Act

SB0204
SB1530
Luisa Ejercito-
Estrada
AN ACT TO COMBAT ABUSE AND ENHANCE
PENALTIES FOR CRIMES AGAINST SENIORS
Seniors Safety
Act

SB0323
SB1193
Sergio Osmena
III
AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE MAINTENANCE
AND SUPPORT OF ELDERLY MEMBERS OF THE
FAMILY AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Maintenance of
Parents Act of
2004

SB0448
SB0643
SB1877
Sergio Osmena
III
AN ACT EXEMPTING THE BANK DEPOSITS OF
SENIOR CITIZENS FROM THE 20%
WITHHOLDING TAX ON INTEREST INCOME,
AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE RA 7423.
Withholding
Tax Exemption
on Bank
Deposits
(Senior
Citizens)

SB1057
SB0645
SB1258
Manuel B. Villar
J r.
AN ACT TO ESTABLISH A J OB TRAINING
PROGRAM FOR MATURE OR OLDER WORKERS
Mature and
Older Workers
Act

SB0646
SB0883
SB1271
J inggoy Ejercito-
Estrada
AN ACT PROWDING FOR A SPECIAL POLLING
PLACE FOR THE DISABLED AND THE ELDERLY.
Special Polling
Place Act of
2004



Ogena 2006, p.30


CODEr
PRINCIPAL
AUTHOR (s)
FULL TITLE SHORT TITLE ABSTRACT
SB0906
J inggoy Ejercito-
Estrada
AN ACT AMENDING RA 7277, OTHERWISE
KNOWN AS THE MAGNA CARTA FOR DISABLED
PERSON GRANTING ADDITIONAL PRIVILEGES
AND INCENTIVES TO DISABLED PERSONS
SIMILAR TO THOSE ENJ OYED BY SENIOR
CITIZENS, AN FOR OTHE PURPOSES
Magna Carta
for Disabled
Persons
(Amendments)

SB1059
Edgardo J .
Angara
AN ACT DECLARING THE SHEIKH KARIMUL
MAKHDUM MOSQUE, CONSIDERED AS THE
FIRST AND OLDEST MUSLIM HOUSE OF
PRAYER OR MOSQUE IN THE PHILIPPINES,
CONSTRUCTED IN 1380 A.D. AT TUBIG,
INDANGAN, SIMUNUL, PROVINCE OF TAWI-
TAWI, AS A NATIONAL SHRINE, AND FOR
OTHER PU
Sheikh Karimul
Makhdum
Mosque as
National Shrine

SB1512
Miriam Defensor-
Santiago
AN ACT TO ENSURE THAT OLDER AND
DISABLED PERSONS ARE PROTECTED FROM
INSTITUTIONAL, COMMUNITY AND DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT AND TO
IMPROVE OUTREACH EFFORTS AND OTHER
SERVICES AVAILABLE TO OLDER OR DIABLED
PERSONS VICTIMIZED BY SUCH VIOLENCE
Older Filipinos
Protection from
Violence Act

SB1849
Edgardo J .
Angara
AN ACT AMENDING RA 9257, OTHERWISE
KNOWN AS AN ACT GRANTING ADDITIONAL
BENEFITS AND PRIVILEGES TO SENIOR
CITIZENS AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE RA
7432, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS AN ACT TO
MAXIMIZE THE CONTRIBUTION OF SENIOR
CITIZENS TO NATION BUILDING, GRANT
BENEF
Senior Citizens
Additional
Benefits and
Privileges

HB3439
SB1903
SB2170
Raul Del Mar
Miriam Defensor-
Santiago
AN ACT GRANTING OLD-AGE PENSION FOR
LIFE TO SENIOR CITIZENS-RA 1616 RETIREES
AS WELL AS SURVIVORSHIP BENEFITS TO
THEIR SUVIVORS, AMENDING FOR THE
PURPOSE PERTINENT PROVISIONS OF THE
SECOND PARAGRAPH OF SECTION 12 (c) OF
COMMONWEALTH ACT 186, AS AMENDED
Government
Service
Retirement
Rationalization
Act of 2005



Ogena 2006, p.31


CODE
PRINCIPAL
AUTHOR (s)
FULL TITLE SHORT TITLE ABSTRACT
HB3439
DEL MAR, RAUL
V.
AN ACT GRANTING OLD-AGE PENSION FOR
LIFE TO SENIOR CITIZENS WHO RETIRED
UNDER RA 1616 AS WELL AS SURVIVORSHIP
BENEFITS TO THEIR SURVIVORS

The bill allows retirees who retired under RA 1616 and who
is qualified to retire under RA 660 or PD 1146, to
automatically convert his gratuity retirement to a pension
system and thereafter receive the old-age pension for life as
well as survivorship benefits for survivors.
SB1963
Luisa Ejercito-
Estrada
AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE PAYMENT OF
THE ADMINISTRATIVE TOTAL DISABILITY
PENSION TO SENIOR VETERANS OF WARS AND
MILITARY CAMPAIGNS
Adminstrative
Total Disability
Pension to
Senior Veterans

Source: Philippine Legislators Commission for Population and Development