QUEZON CITY—The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) with partners from the National Government Agencies (NGA) and Non-Government Organizations (NGO) worked on the assessment of the Philippine Plan of Action on Senior Citizens 2019-2022 that generally aims to improve the quality of life of Senior Citizens, on 22-25 May in Taguig City.
The PPASC 2019-2022 assessment workshop aims to: (1) Enumerate the accomplishments of the PPASC 2019-2022 in accordance with goals of international and local plans, commitments, and goals; (2) Consolidate the targets and accomplishments of government agencies and relevant stakeholders; (3) Analyse gaps, issues, problems, and challenges encountered during the implementation; (4) Develop a strategic results framework that will serve as a basis for the successor plan.
Highlighted during the assessment workshop, are partner NGAs, and NGOs' accomplishments in accordance to their Agency mandates and commitments during the 2019-2022 implementation period.
The assessment workshop was participated by various partners from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), University of the Philippines-Manila, Institute on Aging- National Institutes of Health (UP, IA-NIH), Coalition of Services of the Elderly (COSE), National Housing Authority (NHA), Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC), Office for the Senior Citizens’ Affairs Quezon City (OSCA, QC) and the Philippine Information Agency (PIA).
The PPASC 2019-2022 served as the blueprint for policy formulation and program development, proposing strategies that will ensure the advancement of senior citizens in the three areas of concern on aging: (1) development and empowerment; (2) health and wellbeing; and (3) supportive and enabling environment.
The Senior Citizens or Older Persons sector is one of the segments of society identified as poor, vulnerable, and disadvantaged. Senior citizens are considered priority beneficiaries of social protection programs and services.
On May 2019, Republic Act No. 11350, or the Creation of the National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC) was signed. NCSC is now crafting the PPASC 2023-2028 and will lead this five-year plan that focuses on ensuring the effective implementation of various programs and services for the development of senior citizens and advancing their health and well-being, and ensuring a supportive and enabling environment for the elderly. (JLB/PIA-PMD)
