In support of the elderly

PROBABLY the most neglected and usually the last on the government’s priority list are the elderly or the senior citizens and persons with disability or PWD. Ironically, these two sectors of our society are the most vulnerable and the most in need of special consideration and benefits.

We’ll focus for the moment on the plight of the elderly. The PWD, although as equally in need of attention, will be another story.

There is currently, an estimated eight million people aged 60 and above and around four million aged 65 and above. They account for an estimated 12 percent of the country’s ballooning population.

According to Roleo “Bong” Ignacio, one of the lead nominees of United Senior Citizens Party-list, “We cannot ignore these data. The reality of a possible increase in the number of older Filipinos requiring long- term care as the population ages must be confronted now by preparing human resources, facilities and institutional policies to provide the needed services.”

Economists predict that the country’s population will fall under the “aging” category a few years from now and this is something that should be taken into consideration by the next administration as this will have a big impact in the county’s stability. In a week’s time millions of Filipinos will choose among the presidential wannabes and decide on who will be the next president of the republic. Yet we still have to hear their programs for one of the most vulnerable members of the society, the senior citizens. Unfortunately, as the campaign period is about to end, not a single presidential wannabe has revealed a clear plan for the senior citizens. What’s also sad about this is that there is a dearth of civic organizations that are interested in championing the cause of the elderly.

In fact it seems civil society is not interested at all about the plight of the elderly or senior citizens.

This was the common sentiment of many older people in the country as almost all candidates are fixated on issues that will bring media coverage and make it on the headlines of the 6 o’clock news.

Really, who wants to read about an old man having a hard time stretching his meager pension so he can buy food and medicines?

Excerpts from the April 20, 2022 issue of the Manila Standard:

United Senior Citizens Party-list calls on the next President,

families for support

With the impending growth in numbers of aging Filipino or the senior citizens, United Senior Citizens Partylist believes that it’s high time the government enhances its programs for the seniors that will ensure their safety, protection, welfare, and economics. While the group recognize that the government has sufficient policies that accord older people services and care they need, but only a handful of them are being implemented. As an example, t he haples s conditions of senior citizens who have been isolated, neglected, and overlooked during the onslaught of the pandemic in the last two years. “They are at higher risk of the more serious complications of COVID-19. We have been coordinating with the barangays and families of older people and those who have been affected by the virus so we can determine how best we can support them,” according to Ignacio.

The group stressed the necessity for all citizens and institutions to work together to protect older people not just from the virus, but from

discriminations, neglect and abuse.

The party list also emphasized that the next president has the duty to ensure their needs such as food, medicines, and i nterventions are duly met. At the same time, Ignacio also called on the Filipino family to not forget their very important role in ensuring the wellbeing of the older people.

“Our beloved pare n t s , grandparents and all the seniors

need interaction. Their isolation has already caused them pain, now that were slowly getting back to normal, let us show them our love and affection. We all need to check in regularly on our parents, even senior neighbors, friends and show them that they’re and at the same time valuable members of our society.

The group believes that not only the government but as well as civil society can help improve living conditions of the senior citizens.

Amid these growing concerns among older people, the United Senior Citizens party list vowed to

implement existing policies, enhance programs, legislate new laws if necessary, and collaborate with both private and public sectors to make sure the senior citizens are given compete care and services they need.

In case you’re interested and I’m sure you are, the United Senior Citizens party-list is No. 11 on the official Comelec list.

As a senior citizen myself, I support this group’s advocacy and I leave you with these lines from another ageing rocker Neil Young; “