MANILA, Philippines—A proposed law seeking to provide mandatory family support for needy elderly members has been filed in Congress.
House Bill 1514, or the Elderly Support Act of 2010 authored by Iloilo Rep. Augusto Syjuco, seeks to put an end to the sad plight of elderly members of the community.
Syjuco said the government must address the concerns of the growing elderly population by addressing the growing problem of neglect and abandonment.
“House Bill 1514 is seeking to address the plight of the elderly members of the family by mandating and legally obliging the family members, legitimate or illegitimate, to provide financial support to the elderly members of their family,” Syjuco said.
Under the bill, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) shall provide the elderly member a lawyer from the Public Attorney’s Office and be exempted from all charges and legal fees upon trial.
It also empowers the DSWD or its appointed counsel to represent a needy elderly member in filing a petition in court for his/her maintenance and support from any or all of his/her children.
Syjuco said the petition for maintenance and support must state the facts showing that the elderly member is aged and is incapable of supporting himself/herself, and the names, residence and the current economic status of the children.
He said the court should first take into consideration the financial capability of the children before it orders the maintenance and support of the elderly member.
The DSWD as the lead agency will coordinate with the Department of Justice, Department of Health and the Department of Interior and Local Government, and shall promulgate the rules and regulations necessary to effectively implement the provisions in the proposed bill.
“It is the policy of the State to be cognizant of the debilitating financial resources of the elderly members of the family,” Syjuco said.
“We should take positive steps to care for the needs of the elderly members of society through programs that strengthen the solidarity of the family and actively promote the family’s holistic and total development,” he added.
The elderly—people who are 60 years old and above—now comprise the fastest growing population group in the country.
A recent study by the University of the Philippines Population Institute said the number of aging people in the Philippines will soar to 22 million by 2040 from 4.6 million in 2000. -Cynthia Balana, Philippine Daily Inquirer
September 18 –
International Equal Pay Day
“Increase wages now,
more than other cost items.
For widespread, practical equality!”
Invoke Article 33 of the ILO Constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar
to carry out the recommendations of the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry
against serious violations of protocols of
Forced Labour and Freedom of Association.
Accept the National Unity Government (NUG)
of Myanmar. Reject Military!
#WearMask #WashHands
#Report Corruption #SearchPosts #TakePicturesVideos
October –
Monthly Observances:
Industry and Commerce Safety Month
National Statistics Month
Local Government Month
Consumer Welfare Month
Cooperative Month
National Quality and Productivity Improvement Month
National Health and Wellness Tourism Month
National Indigenous Peoples Month
Weekly Observances:
Week 1: Elderly Filipino Week
Week 2: National Health Education Week
Local Government Week
National Mental Health Week
October 17-23:
National Week for Overcoming Extreme Poverty
October 18 – 24:
United Nations Week
Last Week:
Nurses’ Week
Consumers’ Protection Week
Week of the 4th Sunday:
Barrio Farmers’ Week
Daily Observances:
First Monday (Oct 4): Universal Children’s Day i
n the Philippines
Oct 5: National Teachers’ Day
Oct 10: Local Government Day
Third Thursday (Oct 14): Conflict Resolution Day
Oct 21: Tenants’ Emancipation day
Oct 24: United Nations Day
Oct 29: National Indigenous People’s Thanksgiving Day
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
