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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Gatchalian seeks creation of LGU-run elderly homes, pushes for tougher laws against senior abuse

Gatchalian seeks creation of LGU-run elderly homes, pushes for tougher laws against senior abuse

Published Nov 22, 2024 04:18 am

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian has called for the creation of homes for the elderly managed by local government units (LGUs) as he noted a growing number of abandoned senior citizens in the country.

Gatchalian made the call during the Senate deliberations on the proposed budget of the National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC) for 2025, where he also took note of the rising number of crimes and abuse committed against senior citizens.

“Please look into the possibility of LGU-managed homes for the aged because we have noticed the rising instances of abandoned elderlies,” Gatchalian urged the NCSC.

“Dumadami ang abandoned senior citizens at nakakalungkot na nakikita natin sila sa kalsada (the number of abandoned senior citizens is rising and it is sad that we see them in the streets),” the senator noted.

Citing Valenzuela’s case, Gatchalian, who hails from the city, said the local government was forced to establish its own home for the elderly, named Bahay Kanlungan to respond to the alarming situation.

The senator earlier filed Senate Bill No. 950 or Homes for Abandoned Seniors Act, which seeks for the creation of nursing homes for the elderly to be operated by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in coordination with LGUs concerned.

Under the bill, the LGUs would be tasked to build these nursing homes.

The senator also called for support for the passage into law of Senate Bill No. 816 which criminalizes abuse against senior citizens amid a growing number of reports regarding senior citizens being abused, exploited, and neglected.

“I urge the commission to champion and help push the bill. Kailangan nating tulungan ang ating mga kababayan na matatanda na napapabayaan ng kanilang mga pamilya (we need to help our elderly citizens who have been neglected by their families),” he said.

The lawmaker said a case study presented by the University of the Philippines-National College of Public Administration and Governance (UP-NCPAG), show that children of the elders rank highest in number in terms of perpetrating the abuse, followed by spouses and then grandchildren.

Studies have also shown that elderly people who suffer abuse choose to suffer in silence and keep the problem to themselves.

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Senior citizen Sherwin Gatchalian National Commission of Senior Citizens
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