CEBU CITY (PIA) --  The National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC) will kick off the national celebration of Elderly Filipino Week in Cebu City with a grand opening at SM Seaside on October 1, 2023. 

The opening ceremony in Cebu will be marked by the National Centenarian Recognition Day, which is expected to be attended by thousands of senior citizens along with NCSC Chairman Atty. Franklin Quijano. 

Part of the festivities on the said day is“Simba, Zumba, Sigla at Saya.” 

On the second day, October 2, a flag-raising ceremony will be held at the Malacañang grounds followed by the launch of the Philippines Plan of Action for Senior Citizens 2023-2028.

The NCSC annually celebrates Elderly Filipino Week from October 1-7, 2023. 

This year’s theme, "Honoring the Invaluable Legacy of Filipino Senior Citizens," emphasizes the contributions of Filipino Senior Citizens in contemporary society. 

The celebration aims to honor the elderly populace, which was placed at 9.22 million based on the Philippine Statistics Authority’s (PSA) latest census of 2020.

SC Benefits

In a Kapihan sa PIA held on September 27, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Region 7 shared some of the programs they offer for senior citizens. 

DSWD’s Social Pension Program, which started in 2010, has provided a monthly stipend of P500 to qualified beneficiaries.

DSWD7 Public Information Office Chief Leah Quintana disclosed that they have been releasing the stipend every semester in Central Visayas. 

For the first trimester this year, 99.990% of the stipend has already been disbursed, leaving only 30 unpaid beneficiaries as of September 2023.

There are a total of 299,737 beneficiaries in Central Visayas, of which 180,607 are female and 119,130 are male.

Quintana said that to qualify for the pension, the senior citizen must not be employed, must not be receiving any pension from the government, and must not have any source of regular income.

On the other hand, DSWD Social Welfare Office IV Focal Person for Persons with Disabilities (PWD) Sector Artemia Degamo said that under the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010,  senior citizens can avail of the 20% discount and VAT exemption on medicines, medical services, domestic transportation (sea, land, and air), food, and other necessities.

She said the local government units in the region have also been supportive in their measures to protect the welfare of senior citizens. 

“The LGUs have been very supportive of senior citizens. The City Government of Cebu even gives free movie days for them,” Degamo said. (MYP/PIA-7 Cebu)