THE Anti-Elderly Abuse Act, authored by Tarlac 2nd District Representative Victor Yap, will bring renewed hopes for the elderly on their physical, psychological, emotional and financial provenance.
Covered in this Act are persons aged 60 or more which involves about 7 million Filipinos.
The Commission on Human Rights is the lead agency in the celebration of International Day for Older Persons and attributes to them the gift of longevity: We express our deepest gratitude and appreciation for our elders while keeping in mind that they are pillars of strength, wisdom and custodians of tradition.
The CHR has observed that in previous years, the rights of the elderly have been overlooked. Recently, there have been several conventions-based inclusivity platforms now including the rights of older persons such as Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
In the Philippines, the Anti-Discrimination as to Age on employing senior citizens has been passed.
Despite these platforms, however, Filipino senior citizens are treated with lesser respect by their family members and other persons and are dismissed as non-productive.
It is heartwarming that this bill seeks to give senior citizens the following rights in addition to those provided under existing laws: (a) to avail of protection and legal assistance from the Public Attorney's Office; (b) support services from the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the concerned local government unit; (c) legal remedies under the Family Code; and (d) to be entitled to actual, compensatory, moral and exemplary damages.
Additionally, Section 6 of the proposed measure also tasks the DSWD and DOH to provide senior citizens who are victims of abuse temporary shelter, counselling, rehabilitation services and livelihood assistance.
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Barangay public service. Barangay Tabun offers prompt service to its callers as exemplified by the staff composed of: Raquel Basangan, Geraldine Enriquez, Mary Jane Clata, Jojo Galang, JB Romero, Christian Nacpil, Christian Sarno and Annie Padriga. Heading the barangay is Barangay Chairman Danilo de Leon and assisted by
kagawads Gennalyn Pascual, Christopher Garbo, Glen Gueco, Ennis Manlapaz, Ernesto Bulanadi, Bella Manlapaz, Angelica Magsino, Mary Joy Arias the SK chairperson.