DAVAO CITY (PIA) -- The National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC) is designing several programs that center on promoting the dignity, security, and well-being of elders  in the country.

Dr. Ida Yap-Patron, Commissioner IV of NCSC Cluster 8 covering Regions XI and XIII, has emphasized that senior citizens can still contribute to nation-building by promoting their active citizenship, facilitating their development, and empowering them as lifelong learners.

"We also assure effective implementation for the advancement of active, productive, and healthy aging, establishing and enabling an environment for older persons," she said during her guest appearance on Gobyernong Balitaan radio program of the Philippine Information Agency Davao Occidental over Energy FM Digos.

the overall wellness and health of senior citizens. Yap-Patron introduced the concept of "social prescribing," which means that older people should be part of a community where they can engage in conversations and relate to one another.

“Social prescribing ang tawag nila diyan. Sige’g yawyaw ang ating mga katigulangan at kailangan nilang pakinggan, kaya mag create tayo ng isang environment na pwede silang mag sharing doon, maglaro, sayaw-sayaw,” she explained.

(They call it social prescribing.. Our elders often love to chat and it’s important to listen to them. So, let's create an environment where they can share, play, and even dance if they like.)

Moreover, the Senior Citizens’ Unit for Rights Enforcement (SECURE) program intends to assist senior citizens who are victims of abuse, while the Social Pension, Centenarian Benefits, Assistance to Older Persons in Need (SOCPEN) provides cash assistance to indigent senior citizens based on their qualifications.

constant coordination and partnership with various agencies, including the Office for Senior Citizens Affairs, Senior Citizens Association, LGUs, non-government organizations, and World Health Organization.

“We also need the help of LGUs. Malaking tulong (It’s a big help), so we need to be coordinated. We have to have liaisons or linkages with the LGUs,” Yap-Patron emphasized.

A program on PACE, or the Participation, Communication, and Education, will also assist senior citizens who wish to go back to school and pursue education by providing support and resources.

Meanwhile, the Risk Assessment and Security Management Unit (RASMU) intends to prioritize senior citizens in crisis preparedness, such as floods, fires, and earthquakes, as they are the most vulnerable to such events.

(We want to create facilities that are inclusive, meaning that we will not separate the elderly from their community.)

“So our residential care focuses more on social welfare. Maliit lang. Na-isolate sila sa community. Wala ang presence ng ibang member ng family,” she added.

(It’s just small. They are isolated from the community. There is no presence of other members of the family.)

Yap-Patron said that four residential facilities have already been established in Tanay, Rizal, Quezon City, Tagum City, and Zamboanga. (NCAE/PIA Davao intern/Thumbnail photo from PhilHealth)