Manila wants to protect senior citizens

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Updated August 1, 2017, 2:36 PM

By Jaimie Rose Aberia

The city government of Manila is seeking stricter implementation of an ordinance ensuring protection of senior citizens from all types of abuse.

The city of Manila wants to protect senior citizens in the city with a stricter implementation of an ordinance approved last year by the city council. (Mark  Balmores/Manila Bulletin)

Ordinance No. 8488  or the “City of Manila Ordinance Against Elderly Abuse, Exploitation and Neglect” authored by Councilor Ernesto Dionisio, Jr. and approved by the city council last year, protects the physical, mental, and social well-being of the 132,000 senior citizens in Manila.

While there has been no documented case of elder maltreatment in the city in the recent years, Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada said it does not mean that they will become lenient in implementing the ordinance.

The city’s Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) said it is currently working with the barangay officials in the establishment of a “rescue assistance” program for senior citizens.

“One measure we are considering is putting up a hotline or a senior citizens desk where concerned citizens could report any maltreatment of senior citizens or any activity or situation that causes intended, unintentional, or unnecessary harm to the elderly,” OSCA officer-in-charge Jeff Manansala said.

He said barangay officials will play a key part in this program since they know the neighborhood.

“’Yung mga kinukulong ng anak, ‘di pinapakain, pinapahirapan, maraming ganyang kaso,” Manansala said.

The ordinance defines elder abuse as “the physical, mental, or material maltreatment of an elderly person, including but not limited to beating and isolation, and deprivation of food and medication.”

It imposes a fine of P5,000 and a one year imprisonment, or both, to any person who “willfully subjects an elderly person to ill-treatment, whether physical or verbal, in such manner as to degrade the inherent value of his person…or willfully subjects an elderly person to prolonged mental or emotional harassment.”