Solon hopes SONA includes elderly empowerment

Senior Citizen Rep. Milagros Aquino-Magsaysay on Thursday said it is imperative to institutionalize improved geriatric healthcare, economic participation, social protection, and greater community engagement for the elderly. (PNA photo)

MANILA — A party-list lawmaker representing the senior citizens is hoping that President Rodrigo R. Duterte prioritizes four vital measures that would have a direct impact on the health, opportunities, protection, and empowerment of country’s growing elderly population as he delivers his State of the Nation Address on Monday.

Senior Citizen Rep. Milagros Aquino-Magsaysay on Thursday said it is imperative to institutionalize improved geriatric healthcare, economic participation, social protection, and greater community engagement for the elderly.

She said the rising population of the elderly would cause a shift in demographics, and the country would reach the aging population mark by 2022.

“Senior citizens make up the most vulnerable sectors of our society, and yet is one of the fastest growing demographics,” she said.

“Without institutionalizing laws that would uphold the dignity and decency of their way of life in the present, it may be harder for our State to mitigate the impacts of the ageing population in the future,” she added.

She stressed that Duterte should push for the enactment of the following bills: House Bill (HB) 6448, Philippine Geriatric Center Act; HB 5038, Universal Social Pension Act; HB 7030, Anti-Elderly Abuse Act, and HB 6251, National Senior Citizens Commission Act.

“I hope the said proposed measures vital to the lives of our 8.7 million senior citizens will also be considered as priority measures by our fellow senior citizen, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte,” Aquino-Magsaysay said.

“The elderly has most contributed in building our nation, by paving the way of our economy through their hard work as well as strengthening our democratic institution by asserting their rights to suffrage,” she added.