SORSOGON CITY, Sorsogon (PIA) -- The National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC) and the SM Foundation have teamed up to ramp up the registration of senior citizens.

Sonia Lariosa, NCSC central office focal person, said senior citizens are encouraged to sign up in line with the NCSC project to create a senior citizen information system.

In a radio interview with Ugnayan sa PIA Sorsogon, Lariosa called on Sorsoganons to register any member of their family aged 60 and above in the NCSC online registration system and in the SM Super Grannies Club.

Lariosa said the SM Foundation has provided a space at the 2nd floor of SM City Sorsogon for the elderly or their authorized person to complete the registration.

Lariosa said that in partnership with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), NCSC is currently working on the profiling of senior citizens in the country so that they can easily identify the status of the elderly and the possible interventions to be made to address their concerns.

“It will also help in the formulation and development of programs and services for our seniors,” she said.

Older citizens who cannot make it to SM City Sorsogon but have  internet access can register online for free at the official NCSC website: www.ncsc.gov.ph.

Others may also choose to register manually through their nearest Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) in their respective municipalities or cities.

From Oct. 1 to 6, a total of 1,990 senior citizens signed up with the NCSC at the SM City Sorsogon. 

Simultaneous with the NCSC registration is the registration of grandparents to SM Super Grannies Club, where the SM Foundation partnered with the NCSC to provide a community of like-minded individuals who value social connections and lifelong learning.

April Grace Opinio, SM City Sorsogon’s public information officer, said the SM Super Grannies Club “is not just an ordinary club, but the grandest and most exciting community club in the country, designed exclusively for the super grannies who are young at heart and ready to have fun.”

“The club aims to celebrate the Elderly Filipino Week every year and honor all the amazing super grannies,” Opinio added.

Opinio said members of the club will also have exclusive access to discounts, freebies, and special events at SM Supermalls nationwide, giving them more reasons to visit and socialize with fellow super grannies.

The Filipino Elderly Week is celebrated every first week of October by Proclamation 470, which establishes the state’s obligation to implement a social welfare program supporting the well-being of the elderly. (PIA 5/Sorsogon)