President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has issued an order placing the National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC) under the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) with a view to strengthening government policies and programs for the elderlies.
Executive Order (EO) 96, signed by the President on Sept. 18 mandates the DSWD to implement the Social Pension for Indigent Senior Citizens (SPISC) program through the NCSC to ensure success.
“Pursuant to the Administration’s eight-point socioeconomic agenda, which includes improving bureaucratic efficiency, a strong organizational link between the NCSC and DSWD must be established to further strengthen policies and programs for senior citizens, with the goal of enhancing delivery of social services and promoting the overall well-being and protection of the elderly,” the directive stated.
The NCSC was created through Republic Act (RA) 11350 in 2019 to ensure full implementation of laws, policies, and programs for the promotion and protection of the rights and well-being of senior citizens.
Under this statute, all DSWD functions, programs, projects, and activities for the poor, vulnerable, and disadvantaged senior citizens shall be transferred to the NCSC, which was then attached to the Office of the President.
On the other hand, the SPISC was established through RA 9994 or the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010 to provide monetary grant to eligible senior citizens to support their daily subsistence and medical needs.
RA 11916, enacted in 2022, increased the monthly social pension of impoverished senior citizens from P500 to P1,000.
