By Filane Mikee Cervantes/PNA
MANILA — The Senate on Tuesday unanimously approved on third and final reading a measure aimed at creating a commission for the elderly.
With 12 affirmative votes, zero negative vote, and no abstention, the chamber passed Senate Bill 2159, which seeks to create National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC) solely dedicated in promoting and protecting the rights and interests of senior citizens.
With the creation of the new commission, the National Coordinating and Monitoring Board shall be abolished.
The NCSC will be under the Office of the President and will be composed of a chairperson and six commissioners.
Under the bill, 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.
Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, sponsor of the measure, stressed the need to create the commission for the country’s aging population.
He cited Population Commission data showing that the population of senior citizens in the country in 2018 could be 8 percent of the total population, or 8.013 million.
The country’s senior population is expected to hit 23.63 million by 2050, according to the United Nations Population Fund.
“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.
“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. (PNA)
