People age differently, and the term “elderly” is a generalization that

draws together people of varied characteristics. It encompasses a number of

factors, such as functional capacity, social involvement, physical and mental
health, among others. Hence, the question of who is the elderly is more than
just a function of chronological age.

Nevertheless, the United Nations agreed that the older or elderly

persons are those who have reached the age of sixty (60) years and above,
and here in the Philippines, the law also specifically provides that senior
citizens are any resident citizens of the Philippines at least 60 years old
[Republic Act 9257 Sec 2, Par (a)].

In order to afford equality to this marginalized group, this document is

materialized to delineate their rights, whether already existing, as provided
for by laws, or envisioned for them to have. To be specific, this provides the
vision, mission, goals and strategies for them to avail of such rights.

Vision

The elderlies, recognized as equally important members of a nation,

shall live in the Philippines, wherein there exists an ambience conducive to
their satisfying living or allows them to achieve their holistic needs in terms
of their physiological, safety, love or belongingness, self-esteem and self-
actualization needs.

Mission

The Philippines, in order to be a leader in the recognition and

protection of the elderlies, have to establish a culture that is caring and
considerate of its senior citizens and have to promote a responsive
government that that enacts appropriate laws and furnishes suitable
mechanisms and infrastructures, designed to cater to their holistic needs.

Goals and Strategies

1. Goal:
To a quick and proactive response of various, government or
non-government institutions or organizations to the holistic needs of
the Senior Citizens in every barangay.

Strategies:
 a. In every barangay hall, there shall be a Senior Citizen’s
Desk (SCD) and the employees assigned are oriented to
perform quick and proactive response to the needs of the
elderlies;
b. The employees, under the SCD are obliged to maintain
records and keep related documents of every senior citizen
who ask for their assistance. Such records shall include the
concerns raised by the elderlies or their respective families;
c. The heads of the Office of Senior Citizens Affair shall
conduct random visits to the Senior Citizen’s Desk within
their respective jurisdictions to ensure that the employees
are carrying out their duties efficiently and effectively.
During such visits, the person or persons who conducted the
random visit, together with the employees in the SCD, shall
conduct a meeting to discuss various concerns of the
elderlies in their areas and to deliberate on suggestions or
clarifications for the improvement of their service; and
d. The employees assigned in the SCDs shall be provided with
pertinent trainings and seminars.

2. Goal:
To strengthen protection of older people in the community
against abuse and violence.

Strategies:

a. Provide a Senior Citizen’s Desk in every Barangay to

empower the general public to report suspected
victimization of elders;
b. Conduct a General Meeting every month for the Personnel
who shall be delegated for the SCD to ensure that protection
from physical violence, psychological or emotional,
economic or domestic violence, and neglect or
abandonment; and
c. If in any instance, a concerned citizen wants to file a formal
complaint, assistance shall then be given by SCD.

Basis: House Bill 7030 or the “Anti-Elder Abuse Act”

3. Goal:
 To have coordination between government and non-government
entities in the checking and monitoring of the families taking care of
their elderlies to ensure they are properly attended and taken care of.

Strategies:

a. The Department of Health (DOH), in coordination with local

government units (LGUs), non-government organizations
(NGOs) and people's organizations (Pos) for senior citizens,
shall create neighbourhood support services and train
community-based health workers among senior citizens and
health personnel to specialize in the geriatric care health
problems of senior citizens (Republic Act 9257 Sec 1 Par c);
b. The trained community health workers shall provide
relevant health education to concerned families attending the
health needs of the elderlies; and
c. The Department of Social Welfare and Development
(DSWD), in cooperation with the Office of the Senior
Citizen Affairs (OSCA) and the local government units,
non-government organizations and peoples organizations for
senior citizens shall provide counselling, after care and
follow up services to senior citizens, who are discharged
from the home/institutions for the aged, especially those
who have problems of reintegration with family and
community.

Basis: Republic Act 9257

4. Goal:
To support and encourage the establishment of “substitute
family care” in the form of residential or group homes for the
abandoned, neglected, unattached or homeless senior citizens and
those incapable of self-care.

Strategy:

a. To give at least fifty percent (50%) discount for the

consumption of electricity, water and telephone by the
senior citizens center and residential care/group homes that
are non-stock, non-profit domestic corporation organized
and operated exclusively for the purpose of promoting of
well-being of abandoned, neglected, unattached, or homeless
senior citizens (Republic Act 9257);
 b. To provide realty tax holiday for the first five (5) years
starting from the first year of operation (Republic Act 9257);
and
c. To be prioritized in the construction or maintenance of
provincial or municipal roads leading to the aforesaid home,
residential community or retirement village (Republic Act
9257).

Basis: Republic Act 9257

5. Goal:
To institutionalize the establishment of geriatric wards in every
hospital.

Strategy:

a. There shall be a “senior citizens ward” in every hospital,

which shall be for the exclusive use of senior citizens who
are in need of hospital confinement by reason of their health
conditions.

Basis: Republic Act 9257 Sec 5 Par c

6. Goal:
To address the ease of access and comfort in riding public
transportation.

Strategies:

a. The Department of Transportation shall require public

transport vehicles to follow a design conducive for senior
citizens; and
b. To provide 20% discount in all domestic public
transportations including peer-to-peer ridesharing
companies, such as GRAB, GO LAG, HIRNA, HYPE, etc.
(Republic Act 9994 Rule IV Sec 2)

7. Goal:
To instill the respect of the youth towards the elders and
promote their collaboration.

Strategy:

a. Every first year College Students, for a period of at least one

(1) week, shall be assigned to provide service to specific
 offices related to senior citizen, such as OSCA and Senior
Citizen’s Desk.

8. Goal:
To provide additional benefits and assistance to Senior Citizens,
who are alone in raising their grandchildren.

Strategies:

a. Such senior citizens shall be entitled to a monthly stipend of

Php 1,000.00 cash allowance as assistance to their financial
needs;
b. The minors under the authority of such senior citizens shall
be eligible to a grant of educational scholarship until college
degree; and
c. The minors shall be entitled to 20% discount and VAT
exemptions in the purchase of medicines, including multi
vitamins and minerals supplements, and in the treatment and
prevention of diseases and illnesses.

9. Goal

To have a physical fitness program in every barangay for the

senior citizens and their families.

Strategies:

a. There shall be a daily physical fitness program for senior

citizens such as Yoga classes or Zumba in every barangay to
be supervised by the Office of the Senior Citizen Affairs
together with the Barangay Officials.

10. Goal
To provide free access to educational needs of senior citizens.

Strategies:

a. The Office of the Senior Citizen Affairs shall identify the

educational and training opportunities of citizens in their
respective jurisdiction;
b. The trainings, such as computer literacy program, weaving,
reading and writing classes, etc. shall be provided for free.
11.Goal
 To adjust the pension and or retirement benefits of the senior
citizens to counterbalance the effects of inflation.

Strategies:

a. The retirement benefits of retirees released by GSIS and SSS

shall be reviewed every 5 years to ensure their continuing
responsiveness and sustainability, and to the extent
practicable and feasible, shall be upgraded to be at par with
the current scale enjoyed by those in actual service.
(Republic Act Sec 4 Par i); and
b. The monthly stipend of Php 500.00, given to indigent senior
citizens, shall be augmented to Php 1,000.00, and shall be
released only from the Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs
without the control of other local government agencies such
as the Mayor’s Office.

Matrix

• The elderlies, recognized as equally important members of a

nation, shall live in the Philippines, wherein there exists an
ambience conducive to their satisfying living or allows them to
achieve their holistic needs in terms of their physiological,
Vision safety, love or belongingness, self-esteem and self-actualization
needs.

• The Philippines, in order to be a leader in the recognition and

protection of the elderlies, have to establish a culture that is
caring and considerate of its senior citizens and have to promote
a responsive government that that enacts appropriate laws and
Mission furnishes suitable mechanisms and infrastructures, designed to
cater to their holistic needs.

Goals Strategies
To a quick and a. In every barangay hall, there shall be a Senior Citizen’s
proactive response Desk (SCD) and the employees assigned are oriented to
of various, perform quick and proactive response to the needs of the
government or non- elderlies;
government b. The employees, under the SCD are obliged to maintain
institutions or records and keep related documents of every senior citizen
organizations to the who ask for their assistance. Such records shall include the
holistic needs of the concerns raised by the elderlies or their respective families;
Senior Citizens in c. The heads of the Office of Senior Citizens Affair shall
every barangay. conduct random visits to the Senior Citizen’s Desk within
their respective jurisdictions to ensure that the employees are
carrying out their duties efficiently and effectively. During
such visits, the person or persons who conducted the random
visit, together with the employees in the SCD, shall conduct a
meeting to discuss various concerns of the elderlies in their
areas and to deliberate on suggestions or clarifications for the
improvement of their service; and
d. The employees assigned in the SCDs shall be provided
with pertinent trainings and seminars.

To strengthen a. Provide a Senior Citizen’s Desk in every Barangay to

protection of older empower the general public to report suspected victimization
people in the of elders;
community against b. Conduct a General Meeting every month for the
abuse and violence. Personnel who shall be delegated for the SCD to ensure that
protection from physical violence, psychological or emotional,
economic or domestic violence, and neglect or abandonment;
and
c. If in any instance, a concerned citizen wants to file a
formal complaint, assistance shall then be given by SCD.

Basis: House Bill 7030 or the “Anti-Elder Abuse Act”

To have a. The Department of Health (DOH), in coordination with

coordination local government units (LGUs), non-government
between organizations (NGOs) and people's organizations (Pos) for
government and senior citizens, shall create neighbourhood support services
non-government and train community-based health workers among senior
entities in the citizens and health personnel to specialize in the geriatric
checking and care health problems of senior citizens (Republic Act 9257
monitoring of the Sec 1 Par c);
families taking care b. The trained community health workers shall provide
of their elderlies to relevant health education to concerned families attending the
ensure they are health needs of the elderlies; and
properly attended c. The Department of Social Welfare and Development
and taken care of. (DSWD), in cooperation with the Office of the Senior
Citizen Affairs (OSCA) and the local government units,
non-government organizations and peoples organizations for
senior citizens shall provide counselling, after care and
follow up services to senior citizens, who are discharged
from the home/institutions for the aged, especially those
who have problems of reintegration with family and
community.

Basis: Republic Act 9257

To support and a. To give at least fifty percent (50%) discount for the
encourage the consumption of electricity, water and telephone by the
establishment of senior citizens center and residential care/group homes that
“substitute family are non-stock, non-profit domestic corporation organized
 care” in the form of and operated exclusively for the purpose of promoting of
residential or group well-being of abandoned, neglected, unattached, or
homes for the homeless senior citizens (Republic Act 9257);
abandoned, b. To provide realty tax holiday for the first five (5) years
neglected, starting from the first year of operation (Republic Act
unattached or 9257); and
homeless senior c. To be prioritized in the construction or maintenance of
citizens and those provincial or municipal roads leading to the aforesaid
incapable of self- home, residential community or retirement village
care. (Republic Act 9257).

Basis: Republic Act 9257

To There shall be a “senior citizens ward” in every hospital,

institutionalize the which shall be for the exclusive use of senior citizens who are in
establishment of need of hospital confinement by reason of their health
geriatric wards in conditions.
every hospital.
Basis: Republic Act 9257 Sec 5 Par c

To address the a. The Department of Transportation shall require public

ease of access and transport vehicles to follow a design conducive for senior
comfort in riding citizens; and
public transportation. b. To provide 20% discount in all domestic public
transportations including peer-to-peer ridesharing
companies, such as GRAB, GO LAG, HIRNA, HYPE, etc.
(Republic Act 9994 Rule IV Sec 2)

To instill the Every first year College Students, for a period of at least
respect of the youth one (1) week, shall be assigned to provide service to specific
towards the elders offices related to senior citizen, such as OSCA and Senior
and promote their Citizen’s Desk.
collaboration.

To provide a. Such senior citizens shall be entitled to a monthly stipend

additional benefits of Php 1,000.00 cash allowance as assistance to their
and assistance to financial needs;
Senior Citizens, b. The minors under the authority of such senior citizens shall
who are alone in be eligible to a grant of educational scholarship until
raising their college degree; and
grandchildren. c. The minors shall be entitled to 20% discount and VAT
exemptions in the purchase of medicines, including multi
vitamins and minerals supplements, and in the treatment
and prevention of diseases and illnesses.

To have a There shall be a daily physical fitness program for senior

physical fitness citizens such as Yoga classes or Zumba in every barangay to be
program in every supervised by the Office of the Senior Citizen Affairs together
barangay for the with the Barangay Officials.
senior citizens and
their families.

To provide free a. The Office of the Senior Citizen Affairs shall identify the
access to educational and training opportunities of citizens in their
educational needs respective jurisdiction;
of senior citizens. b. The trainings, such as computer literacy program, weaving,
 reading and writing classes, etc. shall be provided for free.

To adjust the a. The retirement benefits of retirees released by GSIS and

pension and or SSS shall be reviewed every 5 years to ensure their
retirement benefits continuing responsiveness and sustainability, and to the
of the senior extent practicable and feasible, shall be upgraded to be at
citizens to par with the current scale enjoyed by those in actual
counterbalance the service. (Republic Act Sec 4 Par i); and
effects of inflation. b. The monthly stipend of Php 500.00, given to indigent
senior citizens, shall be augmented to Php 1,000.00, and
shall be released only from the Office of the Senior
Citizens Affairs without the control of other local
government agencies such as the Mayor’s Office.

List of Related Local Laws

1. Republic Act No. 9994

AN ACT GRANTING ADDITIONAL BENEFITS AND

PRIVILEGES TO SENIOR CITIZENS, FURTHER AMENDING
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7432, AS AMENDED, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS
"AN ACT TO MAXIMIZE THE CONTRIBUTION OF SENIOR
CITIZENS TO NATION BUILDING, GRANT BENEFITS AND SPECIAL
PRIVILEGES AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES"

2. Republic Act No. 9257

AN ACT GRANTING ADDITIONAL BENEFITS AND

PRIVILEGES TO SENIOR CITIZENS AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 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"

3. Republic Act No. 7876

AN ACT ESTABLISHING A SENIOR CITIZENS CENTER IN ALL

CITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES OF THE PHILIPPINES, AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR.

4. House Bill 7030

ANTI-ELDER ABUSE ACT