Senate moves for the creation of senior citizen commission

A measure aimed at creating a commission for the elderly hurdled second reading at the Senate. Senate Bill No. 2159, under Committee Report 552, seeks to create National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC), which is solely dedicated in promoting and protecting the rights and interests of senior citizens.

It is in substitution of Senate Bill Nos. 674, 1881 and 2099 filed by Sen. Bam Aquino, Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III and Sen. Sonny Angara, respectively.

Sen. Antonio "Sonny" Trillanes IV, sponsor of the measure, said that with the creation of the commission, the National Coordinating and Monitoring Board created by Republic Act 9994, which is composed of heads of different government agencies, would be abolished.

Trillanes, acting chairman of the Senate Social Justice and Rural Development Committee, said the NCSC will be under the office of the President and will be composed of a chairperson and six commissioners.

The commissioners will represent and/or hold offices in the different regions in the country. An executive director, who will be appointed by the commission, will manage and supervise the commission's daily operations.

Some of the functions of the commission are to ensure the full implementation of laws, policies and programs for the elderly; formulate policies for the promotion and protection of their rights and well-being; conduct information and education campaigns to raise awareness of senior citizens' rights; and represent the Philippines in international functions, forums and other conferences involving senior citizens.

Trillanes said that with the aging population of the country, it is important to prepare for such population trend and the creation of the commission is a good start.

According to the Population Commission, the population of senior citizens in the country in 2018 could be 8 percent of the total population, or 8.013 million.

The United Nations Population Fund projected that the senior population in the Philippines is expected to hit 23.63 million by 2050.

"Growing old comes with a variety of challenges, from physical to economic. With situations like these, it is important that we create for senior citizens a supportive and an enabling environment where they are assisted and appreciated," Trillanes said in his sponsorship speech.

"This representation believes that our senior citizens have broadly contributed to the growth and progress of our nation, and continue to do so given the right opportunities. It is time for us to give back by protecting their rights and ensuring the proper execution of programs for their well-being," he added.