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.
July 2025
Nutrition Month
“Give us much more than P50 increase
for proper nutrition!”
Invoke Article 33 of the ILO Constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar
to carry out the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry recommendations
against serious violations of
Forced Labour and Freedom of Association protocols.
Accept National Unity Government (NUG)
of Myanmar. Reject Military!
#WearMask #WashHands #Distancing #TakePicturesVideosturesVideos
July
3 July – International Day of Cooperatives
3 July – International Plastic Bag Free Day
5 July – World Youth Skills Day
7 July – Global Forgiveness Day
11 July – World Population Day
17 July – World Day for International Justice
28 July – World Nature Conservation Day
30 July – World Day against Trafficking in Persons
Monthly Observances:
Schools Safety Month
Nutrition Month
National Disaster Consciousness Month
Weekly Observances:
Week 2: Cultural Communities Week
Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise
Development Week
Week 3: National Science and
Technology Week
National Disability Prevention and
Rehabilitation Week
July 1-7:
National Culture Consciousness Week
July 13-19:
Philippines Business Week
Week ending last Saturday of July:
Arbor Week
Daily Observances:
First Saturday of July:
International Cooperative Day
in the Philippines
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
