With the enactment of the Republic Act 11350, creating the National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC), our beloved lolos, lolas, titos, titas and for some, parents too, will now have a national government agency dedicated to their needs and concerns.

As one of the authors of the law, Senator Sonny Angara said the creation of the NCSC sends a strong signal to the senior citizens that their welfare is of great importance to the government.

“Napakaraming sakripisyo ang binigay ng ating mga magulang para sa ikabubuti ng buhay natin. Ang nakakalungkot ay sa pagtanda nila, marami sa kanila ang napapabayaan na at minsan nakakalimutan pa,” Angara said.

The NCSC will serve as the policy-making body of the government on senior citizen affairs.

Under the law, the National Coordinating and Monitoring Board, created under R.A. 9994 or the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010 will now abolished.

All of the functions, programs, activities and projects of the DSWD for the poor, vulnerable and disadvantaged senior citizens will now be transferred to the NCSC.

“Sa pagtatag ng NCSC, meron na tayong isang ahensya na tututok sa lahat ng bagay tungkol sa kapakanan ng mga seniors. Kung may batas o regulasyon na hindi napapatupad tungkol sa seniors, ang NCSC na ang bahala dito,” Angara said.

“Kasama dito ang hindi nagpapatupad ng discount sa seniors; ang pag monitor sa pagbigay ng pension; at paniniguro na ang mga nangaapi sa kanila ay mapaparusahan,” Angara added. 

The senator and his father, former Senate President Edgardo Angara, have long advocated for the rights of senior citizens.

The elder Angara was the author of Republic Act 7432 or the Senior Citizens’ Act of 1993 while Sen. Sonny was an author of R.A. 9994.

For the 18th Congress, Angara is pushing for the grant of a 100 percent increase in the social pension of seniors.

From P500 a month or P6,000 a year, Angara, through his Senate Bill 133, wants to increase this to P12,000 a year.
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