Age-based discrimination resulting in unemployment, inadequate social security, and restricted access to healthcare are some of the most pressing problems currently faced by the country's senior citizens that need to be addressed by the government, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) said.
These problems of senior citizens were highlighted by the CHR through Commissioner Beda A. Epres during an interview with PTV's Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon program on Tuesday, March 25.
With Protection Service as one of the mandates of the CHR, Epres said that they are tasked to conduct investigations on complaints they receive concerning any violation of human rights against the country's elderly.
Sometimes, he said the CHR conducts motu proprio (on its own initiative) investigations based on reports they pick up from newspapers and other media outlets.
The CHF also conducts regular dialogues with civil society organizations (CSOs) at least four times a year, he also said.
Based on talks with members of civil society organizations, Epres said that age-based discrimination remains the most pressing concern for the elderly.
He cited that discrimination leads to limited opportunities in the workforce and unemployment.
Also, he said, many senior citizens also have inadequate social security, such as not receiving pension from the Social Security System (SSS) and Government Service Insurance System (GSIS).
For those who receive pensions, such as for indigent senior citizens, they complain that the pensions are not enough, he added.
On restricted access to healthcare, Epres said those living in far-flung areas lack proper transportation to get them to healthcare facilities, while the health clinics near their location often provide insufficient geriatric care.
"These result in untreated health conditions that reduce the overall wellbeing of the elderly," he lamented.
At the same time, the country's elderly bemoan that they are not involved in any decision-making process, which leads to government policies being crafted that are not aligned with their interests, Epres pointed out.
Lastly, he stressed that many elderly are in desperate need for protection against violence, neglect, and abuse. These cases, he said, often go unreported because the perpetrators are members of the family.
As the country's watchdog for human rights violations, Epres said they maintain an open line of communication with local government units (LGUs) and government agencies such as the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), which are in charge of handing out benefits for senior citizens.
Should the CHR receive any complaints or reports of infraction such as names not being included in the list of beneficiaries, they immediately coordinate with the agency involved and ask the reason why such an oversight took place. More often than not, Epres said that the issue at hand gets resolved.
The CHR likewise hopes to establish an International Convention on the Rights of Older Persons in the country, and this is why they are actively joining conversations with the United Nations (UN), he said as he explained that this will serve as a benchmark on what the Philippines could provide for its elderly population.
Lastly, Epres said that Filipinos should adopt a new mindset in dealing with senior citizens and look at them with respect. He declared: "We should not treat them as mere recipients of charity or welfare. We must treat them as rights holders."