BICOL Saro Partylist Rep. Brian Raymund Yamsuan has pressed Congress to pass a law that aims to institutionalize a national long-term care program for senior citizens to enable them to lead dignified, healthy and secured lives.

Yamsuan said indigent elderly Filipinos who have no means to provide for themselves will benefit the most from the proposed long-term care program, which he envisions as a complementary measure to the law granting them social pensions.

Under the P5.768 trillion General Appropriations Act (GAA) for 2024, the fund for the social pensions of about 4.1 million indigent senior citizens doubled from P25.3 billion in 2023 to P49.81 billion for this year to cover the increase of this monthly cash aid from P500 to P1,000 as provided under Republic Act 11916, Yamsuan said.

“While doubling the amount of the pension benefit is a big help to our indigent lolos and lolas, this is, admittedly, not yet enough for them to be able to shoulder the costs of quality health care, insurance, shelter and other services that they need, and should be entitled to, in their twilight years,” Yamsuan said.

Yamsuan noted that many poor elderly Filipinos usually survive by living with their children or relatives, or by taking on odd jobs, while others have either been neglected or abandoned.

“Our senior citizens have contributed a wealth of wisdom and experience and spent their lives in helping carve a vibrant future for our country. We should honor, respect and care for them by putting in place a long-term comprehensive program that would provide them social protection, quality healthcare and an environment that supports their active engagement in community activities as much as possible,” Yamsuan said.

The latest census conducted by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) in 2020 placed the total number of Filipinos aged 60 years and above at 9.22 million.

As of 2023, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has validated 4.1 million as indigent senior citizens.

Under Yamsuan’s proposal outlined in House Bill (HB) 7980 or the proposed Long-Term Care for Senior Citizens Act, the program shall cover initiatives that seek to reduce the poverty and vulnerability of the elderly through interventions that protect them from abuse, exploitation, neglect and discrimination.

Senior citizens shall also be specifically targeted in livelihood programs, social insurance and other means of financial support schemes under the bill to protect them from loss of income and unemployment as a result of old age.

HB 7980, which Yamsuan filed with Camarines Sur Rep. LRay Villafuerte, also provides for the social development of seniors, such as lifelong learning and non-f0rmal education programs and other ‘mainstreaming activities’ that will allow them to remain actively engaged in community activities.

“The bill also ensures that integrated and innovative elderly focused social services are made available at the local level, with emphasis on disease prevention as well as preventive, curative and rehabilitative healthcare,” Yamsuan said.

Yamsuan said this includes providing home nursing services, hospice care and medical and psychological support for frail, and dependent elderly citizens.

Under the bill, the program shall be jointly implemented by the Department of Finance (DOF), Department of Health (DOH), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the local government units (LGUs), and the DSWD.