National Coordinating and Monitoring Board

Health Human Resource for an Aging Philippines: The Way Forward thru the Philippine Plan of Action for Senior Citizens (PPASC) 2012-2016*[i]

Good Morning. In behalf of Undersecretary Florita R. Villar, let me first congratulate Dr. Shelley Dela Vega and the National Institute of Health of UP Manila for initiating this very relevant and timely activity that will ultimately benefit our Filipino elderly.

Ever since the 1987 Consitution mandated that “the State shall adopt an integrated and comprehensive approach to health development which shall endeavor to make essential goods, health and other social services available to all the people at affordable cost,“ with priority given to the needs of the “underprivileged, sick, elderly and disabled”, the Philippine government has taken clear measures to ensure that we progressively achieve such objectives.

With the passage of Republic Act No. 7432 in 1992, the first senior citizens law aimed at granting our Filipino elderly benefits and special privileges, the State has consistently passed laws that will recognize and maximize the contribution of senior citizens in nation-building. From RA 9257, the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2003, we now have a much improved version in RA 9994, the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010 with more medical benefits, discount privileges, free services and government financial assistance. 

All these proud accomplishments were solidly anchored on sectoral plans for the Filipino elderly developed as early as 1999. Under Executive Order No. 266, the Philippine Plan of Action for Older Persons (PPAOP) 1999-2004, a five-year plan was formulated. Its successor, the Philippine Plan of Action for Senior Citizens (PPASC) 2006-2010 served as a guide for all government agencies, local government units, civil society organizations and other stakeholders in planning, policy formulation, and program development to promote and protect the rights and welfare of senior citizens.

Now, with the next 5-year plan, PPASC 2012-2016, it builds on the enhancement of strategies and programs and strengthening the collaboration among various stakeholders towards a more effective and efficient service delivery for senior citizens. It is still focused on the three (3) major areas of concern in ageing, namely: 1) senior citizens and development, 2) advancing health and well-being into old age, and 3) ensuring enabling and supporting environments, and relies on international, regional and national legal bases. It also spells out strategies, programs and projects contributing to the attainment of the Millenium Development Goals as well as the Philippine Development Plan.

Conscious of the feedback obtained during the assessment-workshops of PPASC 2006-2010, and sensitive to the emerging trends and issues relevant to elderly care, particular attention was given to providing concrete recommendations on improving capacities on geriatric and gerontology services.

First of these measures was the recommendation to develop more medical practitioners proficient in geriatric care, considering the very small number of specialists currently working in the field of geriatrics and gerontology. More importantly, there is a need to institutionalize a basic geriatric subject in the medical and nursing curricula. Noting the fact that caregiver’s skills training is regulated by the TESDA and is merely by accreditation and not licensed by the Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC), specialized seminars and trainings by academic institutions like Miriam College, and hospitals with solid geriatric departments like St. Lukes, Manila Doctors, and UP PGH, are actually encouraged.  

Similarly, as highlighted in the PPASC, an important policy issue which the Department is currently looking into is the prevention of elderly abuse. Hence, together with appropriate legislative advocacy and lobbying for an anti-elderly abuse legislation, the subject of improving standards and other accreditation requirements for facilities and institutions that cater to senior citizen clientele is being given attention by the DSWD. Of note here, is that only government-run and NGO-operated centers, residential and group homes are subject to DSWD standards, but privately-run, for-profit nursing homes are not specifically under any government agency’s particular jurisdiction. In addition, while the existing policy is for de-institutionalization and for reintegration of the elderly to their own family environments, it appears that for extreme cases, specialized care in proper health facilities is in the best interest and welfare of the elderly. All these are policy questions duly raised and must be extensively discussed for appropriate interventions to be developed.    

 With the PPASC 2012-2016, it is hoped that all agencies and stakeholders remain committed to achieving these goals and undertake genuine efforts to address these needs of our Filipino elderly.

 Thank you very much.

 .

Under Republic Act No. 9994 otherwise known as the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010, Filipino senior citizens are entitled to an additional government assistance provided as a “Death Benefit Assistance”. The Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) explicitly stated that the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) shall issue the proper guidelines to implement this benefit.

Earlier this year, the joint DSWD-DILG Memorandum Circular No. 1, Series of 2012 was finally signed by both Department Secretaries and was issued to guide local government units (LGUs) primarily tasked to grant the P2,000 Death Benefit Assistance for Indigent Senior Citizens.

In the Memorandum Circular, a minimum P2,000 death benefit assistance shall be given to the survivors of the deceased senior citizens, but some more affluent LGUs can give a higher amount if their resources allow them, especially since this amount shall be taken from their Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA). Similarly, this benefit assistance particularly targets the indigent senior citizens as beneficiaries, but some more capable LGUs can grant this to non-indigent seniors as well.

Admittedly, this benefit ultimately redounds to the benefit of the families and relatives of the deceased senior citizen to cover some funeral and burial expenses. As such, there will be some documentary requirements required of family members to prove their affiliation to the deceased. On the other hand, if the deceased senior citizen was cared for by a non-relative towards the end of his or her days, that person may still avail of said P2,000 death benefit if certified by local authorities like the barangay officials and the city/municipality social workers.