𝐃𝐚𝐯𝐚𝐨 𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐥 𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐫 𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐧 𝐬𝐮𝐛𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐲

An increase in the annual financial subsidy nears as the 20th Davao City Council on Tuesday approved on second reading the ordinance raising the aid from P1,500 to a maximum of P3,000.

The ordinance amending Ordinance No. 0954-22, once finalized on third reading, will provide greater support to elder residents in the city.

Councilor Pilar Braga, chairperson of the Committee on Education, Science and Technology, Arts and Culture, in a media interview said that the maximum increase of P3,000 will depend on the availability of government funds.

“The ordinance is allocating P3,000 as an annual subsidy for our qualified senior citizens. That’s the ceiling, depending on the availability of the funds of the government because we have sectors that also have some benefits,” she said.

She said increasing the subsidy is a step toward easing the financial burden of senior citizens.

“Kahit konti lang at least nakakatulong naman (Even if it's just a little, at least it helps) We are not stopping there, as long as our income increases we would also would like to increase and add more to the benefits that we’re giving our senior citizens and other sectors,” she said.

The City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) aims to give the P1,500 subsidy to a total of 168,799 senior citizens in the city.

From October 2024 to May 2025, a total of 141,544 seniors have already received financial aid, while 27,255 remain on the distribution list.

Braga said the ordinance will officially take effect once the Mayor signs it into law. CIO

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Senior citizens warned against social pension scams

By Moises Cruz

SENIOR Citizen Party-list Rep. Rodolfo Ordanes reminded the elderly and their families to exercise caution and to avoid people promising financial assistance and other benefits that are authorized for release by government agencies.

"My advice to my older peers is to not trust anyone or any organization that asks for money in exchange for a social pension or other government assistance," Ordanes said.

"It is obvious that this is a scam, because the government is providing free financial aid," he added.

A concerned individual contacted the Senior Citizen Party-list about a supposed senior citizens' organization that has been recruiting members, collecting dues, and soliciting with promises of social pension for the underprivileged seniors.

Ordanes asked the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to look into the scam.

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.”

Illegal Use of Senior Citizen Cards in The Philippines

Important! Check it out, please!

Illegal use of senior citizen cards in the Philippines

Are YOU a Senior Citizen Living in The Philippines?Sind SIE auf den Philippinen lebender Rentner?

I am not yet a senior citizen. I am not yet a pensioner. But I love to live in the Philippines for good since 1999, because Filipinos really can be proud of their strong support to elderly. Not only do they have a set of laws for senior citizens that are the envy of many developing countries, the Filipino families supprt system remains positive, appreciate and nurturing.

On the other hand; the number of all these elders continues to swell. If I am not mistaken, some five million people aged 60 years and older now account for about nice percent of the current population. This is expected to increase to about 12 percent by 2025.

Isn't it amusing to see aged 60-and-up-groups taking pleasure in discounted lunches or dinners or seeing for free a good movie? Many of Filipinos look forward to this retirement age with so much relish1 There is indeed a long list of freebies and discounts that are available to holders of that "one-and-only card" issued by the Office of Senior Citizens Affairs under the city or municipal mayor's office.

And, these benefits are also available for all expats living in the Philippines permanently!!!

Aside from getting 20 percent discount on medicines, medical and dental fees, transport fares, services in hotels and restaurants, admission fess in theatres, as well as a fice percent discount on water and electricity charges. And, very important and just recently, these transactions are exempt from the value added tax!

MABUHAY!