Make time for us too, seniors urge government

By: Leila B. Salaverria, Philippine Daily Inquirer, 8 Oct 2020

MANILA, Philippines — Senior citizens should be able to go to groceries and shopping malls during designated hours in a day in order to get their necessities, according to the National Commission of Senior Citizens, a newly formed government body.

The commission’s chair, Franklin Quijano, suggested that malls and groceries designate the period 9-11 a.m. for senior citizens, and the rest of the day for the general public. He directed this appeal to the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging and Infectious Diseases (IATF), local government units, and administrators of malls and groceries.

Under IATF rules to prevent the spread of COVID-19, senior citizens and those younger than 21 years old are required to stay home unless going out for essentials or to work.

But many of the elderly complain about not being allowed inside shopping malls and groceries, Quijano said at the Wednesday Laging Handa briefing.

“Sometimes, they’re not able to get their basic necessities,” he said.

Quijano observed that malls and groceries were usually disinfected in the evening.

“And in the morning, if senior citizens are allowed [in], then the chances or the risk of them getting any disease is low,” he said. Quijano expressed hope that local government units would comply with any directive in this regard, pointing out that LGUs had occasionally ignored orders from Interior Secretary Eduardo Año.

“Senior citizens are in the twilight of their lives. Please favor us the morning,” he said.

The National Commission of Senior Citizens was created under Republic Act No. 11350, which was enacted in 2019. It is tasked to, among others, formulate policies for the promotion and protection of the rights and well-being of senior citizens.

The commission has neither office nor budget yet, and no implementing rules and regulations as well as organization structure, Quijano said.

But the opportunity that its creation gives to senior citizens will go a long way, he said.

The Philippines observes Elderly Filipino Week every first week of October.