A lawmaker on Friday pushed for stronger social protection and medical support for senior citizens, saying many of them are “living their twilight years in poverty, illness, and neglect.”
Bulacan Sixth District Rep. Salvador Pleyto issued the appeal as he voiced concerns over several challenges faced by the elderly, including poverty, lack of access to healthcare, social neglect, and digital exclusion.
“Many of our senior citizens have no stable source of income after retirement,” Pleyto lamented in a privilege speech.
“Those who do rely on their SSS or GSIS pensions find that the amount is not enough to meet even their basic needs—especially amid the rising prices of food, utilities, and medicines,” added the oldest member of the House at 83.
Pleyto conceded that “old age comes with illness,” yet many seniors struggle to afford medicines, diagnostic tests, or hospital care.
Despite the expansion of PhilHealth coverage, he said “gaps remain, especially for maintenance drugs, geriatric care, and long-term treatment.”
He also lamented the “social neglect and loneliness” suffered by many elderly Filipinos, as some are left alone when family members move away for work.
“Some are left alone by families who migrate for work, while others are abandoned altogether,” he said. “May mga sitwasyon na makikita natin silang nagpapalimos, at ‘yong iba naman dinadala sa home for the aged, na kalimitan, overcrowded na rin,” the lawmaker noted
Pleyto also noted the growing digital divide affecting seniors, even as he urged government agencies to make these systems more accessible to seniors, especially in rural areas.
“In this age of digital transformation, many elderly Filipinos are left behind,” Pleyto said, referring to their struggles with online transactions in banks, health services, and government benefits.
“Gaya sa GSIS, bigla na lang natigil ang aking kakarampot na pensyon. Yon pala, dapat mong i-download ang tinatawag na GSIS application upang doon mo gagawin ang mag-APIR [Annual Pensioners’ Information Revalidation]. Paano na lang ‘yong mga nasa liblib na lugar kung wala silang cellphone o Wi-Fi?”
