Manila: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has issued Executive Order (EO) 96, transferring the National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC) under the supervision of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). This move aims to enhance policies and programs for the elderly.
According to Philippines News Agency, the executive order, signed on September 18, mandates the immediate relocation of the NCSC from the Office of the President to the DSWD for improved policy and program coordination. The order is part of the administration’s eight-point socioeconomic agenda, which emphasizes improving bureaucratic efficiency and strengthening the organizational link between the NCSC and DSWD. The goal is to enhance the delivery of social services and promote the well-being and protection of senior citizens.
The DSWD will continue to implement the Social Pension for Indigent Senior Citizens (SPISC) program and may collaborate with the NCSC to ensure its success. The NCSC was established by Republic Act (RA) 11350 in 2019 to guarantee the full implementation of laws and policies that protect the rights and welfare of senior citizens.
Under RA 11350, all functions, programs, and activities for disadvantaged senior citizens previously managed by the DSWD were transferred to the NCSC, which was initially attached to the Office of the President. The SPISC program was established through RA 9994, known as the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010, providing financial assistance to eligible senior citizens for daily needs and medical expenses.
Republic Act 11916, enacted in 2022, increased the monthly social pension for indigent senior citizens from PHP500 to PHP1,000, further supporting their subsistence and well-being.