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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Investing in 'silver economy' a top ASEAN priority, says DSWD chief

Investing in 'silver economy' a top ASEAN priority, says DSWD chief

Published Mar 6, 2026 02:55 pm
Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian (DSWD Photo)
Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian (DSWD Photo)
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), as chair of the 2026 Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC), is prioritizing investments in the “silver economy” to promote active aging among senior citizens across the region.
DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian, who chairs this year’s ASCC, said the initiative ensures that no sector is left behind in development, including older persons.
“That is part of the ‘I’ of RISE—Inclusive Development—making sure that no one is left behind and that the world is aging. Southeast Asia is aging. The Philippines will come to a point that we will also age,” Gatchalian said in Filipino.
The DSWD’s theme for its ASCC leadership is RISE ASEAN, which stands for Resilient and empowered families; Inclusive development; Smart youth and innovation; and an Environmentally sustainable and food-secure future.
According to Gatchalian, the goal is to encourage the private sector to invest in products and programs for older persons that allow them to continue contributing to nation-building.
“So now it’s about time, under the chairmanship of our President in ASEAN, we push for investments to be made from the private sector for products and services that can help our active aging,” he pointed out.
“What our President, Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., wants is for every citizen to remain productive in nation-building. That’s why our concept of the silver economy is to get the private sector involved. They invest in products, services, technologies, and innovations to ensure that as we age, we remain part of the productive workforce of our country, or of our region,” he added.
Gatchalian also cited Brunei Darussalam’s Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, Her Excellency Hajah Nor Ashikin Binti Haji Johari, who highlighted a “golden opportunity” for the ASCC to collaborate with the ASEAN Economic Community, one of ASEAN’s three pillars.
“The minister from Brunei Darussalam also mentioned that there’s a golden opportunity to work with the economic pillar in getting the private sector to invest in this greenfield or new horizon economy,” Gatchalian said, noting that ASCC is pushing to strengthen cross-sectoral and cross-pillar partnerships.
Concrete initiatives for older persons will be detailed in upcoming high-level forums.
“If you ask me for details, there will be high-level forums where more concrete details will be provided. But that’s what those forums are for—to bring technology from the 10–11 countries, to bring in the private sector. What can we do? What declarations can we make to attract investments in this new greenfield economy?” he said.
Aside from active aging, Gatchalian also shared other initiatives discussed during the 35th ASCC Council meeting, including the proposed Manila-ASPECT (ASEAN Strategic Protocol for Emergency and Comprehensive Transformation) Framework for regional disaster response, efforts to strengthen families as the basic unit of society, and programs focused on the smart youth in the digital age.

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DSWD ASEAN ASCC SILVER ECONOMY REX GATCHALIAN
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