President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has placed the National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC) under the supervision of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in a bid to strengthen policies and programs for the elderly.

Executive Order (EO) 96, signed by Marcos on Sept. 18, and which takes effect immediately, mandates the transfer of the NCSC to the DSWD from the Office of the President (OP) for purposes of policy and program coordination.

“Pursuant to the Administration’s eight-point socioeconomic agenda, which includes improving bureaucratic efficiency, a strong organizational link between the NCSC and DSWD must be established to further strengthen policies and programs for senior citizens, with the goal of enhancing delivery of social services and promoting the overall well-being and protection of the elderly,” the order read.

According to the EO, the DSWD will remain in charge of implementing the Social Pension for Indigent Senior Citizens (SPISC) program and may work with the NCSC to help ensure its success.

The NCSC was established by Republic Act (RA) 11350 in 2019 to ensure full implementation of laws, policies, and programs for the promotion and protection of the rights and well-being of senior citizens.

Under RA 11350, all DSWD functions, programs, projects, and activities for the poor, vulnerable, and disadvantaged senior citizens shall be transferred to the NCSC, which was then attached to the OP.

On the other hand, the SPISC was established through RA 9994 or the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010 to provide monetary grant to eligible senior citizens to support their daily subsistence and medical needs.

RA 11916, signed into law in 2022, increases the monthly social pension of indigent senior citizens from PHP500 to PHP1,000. (PNA)