00:00 We will talk about the updates on the action plan for senior citizens and the plans to allow them to work again.
00:09 We will talk to Atty. Franklin Quijano, Chairperson of the National Commission of Senior Citizens.
00:16 Good afternoon Atty. Quijano.
00:19 Good afternoon to all the viewers and listeners of your new program, Bagoong Pilipinas Ngayon.
00:30 Okay, Atty. What is your reaction to the decision made by ACT-CIS Party List Representative Erwin Tulfo that senior citizens are willing to hire private companies?
00:44 Well, actually it is a very welcome development and I actually salute former Secretary-Congressman Erwin Tulfo for such a good move.
01:00 We are seeing things that the government should do. First, I hope that the work is covered by insurance.
01:13 Sometimes, the civil service law, JSIS and SSS law tends to limit the coverage of the insurance.
01:22 We can look into this. But in the meantime, with senior citizens working, they are really happy.
01:31 There are some establishments that are hiring and employing senior citizens. I hope that the number of establishments that are hiring senior citizens will increase.
01:44 Sir, what do you think are the priorities that should be given when it comes to the employment of senior citizens?
01:53 Well, actually we are looking at not just employment.
01:57 Ma'am Ninia and Ma'am Janet, the issue that we are looking at is how can the senior citizens transfer their skills and their experiences and even their wisdom to the next generation.
02:13 So the development work where the experience of senior citizens about barangay development, city development, planning and all can be used by our government.
02:28 Also, enterprise development. There are many senior citizens who are good at handicrafts.
02:34 They don't need to graduate from college but they are farmers and fishermen. But there are skill sets that can be shared.
02:43 We are actually trying to encourage senior citizens to be more productive by encouraging enterprises to support them and enterprises to be created.
02:54 Of course, employment is part of it and we are happy because there are many senior citizens who are looking for a job because they want to use their time.
03:05 They possess the skill and the stability and the focus to work.
03:10 There are really many productive senior citizens. My parents, you and I are already 70 plus. My parents are still working.
03:19 So how important is it to give senior citizens a chance to work especially when they can already do it?
03:29 Oh my! It's very important. You know, we are being compelled to stay and limit our movement because we are continuing to retire at 65.
03:42 But there are lots of healthy and productive senior citizens who want to work.
03:49 And that is why in the senior citizens organizations and associations, we are talking to them and encouraging them.
03:57 What are the skills that you can invent to help?
04:02 And I think this should bring in a new initiative where senior citizens themselves can ask what else can we help in the next generation.
04:16 You know, if senior citizens do not leave their ability, I am asking this by way of a gist, in Ilocos, senior citizens will be good at swimming.
04:32 But if they are asked if they are good at swimming, it seems that they are not confident because the focus is on the new tablets and cell phones.
04:46 And so we really hope that as part of our learning experience, we can share our skills to the next generation.
04:55 Sir, I have a question here. Do you agree that when our senior citizens return to work, they should be compensated according to the wage law and not discounted, especially if they are doing menial jobs?
05:10 And another question, should they also be allowed to work 8 hours?
05:15 Well, as to the first question, I would like to say the senior citizens offer is very flexible.
05:25 But I hope that the management, businesses, and even government will realize how experienced a senior citizen is based on his skills, based on his craftsmanship, and the experience he has.
05:41 So I hope that the senior citizens will appreciate and be given the right compensation for that.
05:51 Of course, your second question, Ninia, we also need to be flexible because sometimes the senior citizen would just like to work based on what he wants, right?
06:08 Sometimes flexibility becomes very important.
06:11 I know of some food chains that offer 4 hours and the senior citizen is happy because they are being given work.
06:21 Like Macdo decided, KFC decided, SM is also supporting. I know that the others are contemplating and are supporting.
06:30 And the latest finding we have is that the senior citizen is more focused. He is not thinking of leaving his job.
06:39 The millennials who work sometimes, because of the many offers, many apply, get accepted, and then suddenly leave and look for another job.
06:51 So in terms of stability in decision making, the senior citizen is more reliable.
06:56 Let's just hope that part of it is to really make the senior citizen healthy.
07:02 And as part of my commercials that I want to put in Bagong Pilipinas, we are thankful to President Bongbong Marcos and the DBM for downloading P43 billion pesos for senior citizens to have annual regular medical examination.
07:21 This will go a long way. This is actually a shot in the arm of the family.
07:26 Because if the family would not have any support over knowing the medical condition of the senior, necessarily it becomes a burden on them.
07:35 But with government giving an annual regular medical examination, it's a bit continuous. There is a bit of assistance for our families.
07:44 So the family is better off together with the senior citizen.
07:48 I hope you will help us, Ms. Ninja, to promote this program which is being handled by PhilHealth to all the senior citizens.
07:58 I hope all senior citizens, 100 percent, have annual regular medical examination.
08:05 That's a very good point. As Sir said earlier, we are learning the value of hard work and number one, our senior citizens.
08:14 Speaking of program, we also asked for an update on the Philippine Action Plan for our fellow senior citizens.
08:22 What is the status of this and what are the priorities of this program for the senior citizens of the country?
08:29 Ma'am Eunice, I'm going to invite you to attend the October 1 to 7. October 1 to 7 is the Elderly Week celebration of the whole Philippines.
08:42 And on October 1, we'll be having Simba, Sumba, Sigla, and Saya.
08:52 Because it's a Sunday and we have to go to church. So Simba, Sumba, Sigla, and Saya.
08:57 But on Monday, we'll be launching the Philippine Plan of Action for the Senior Citizens as well as the AIDS-friendly local governments, AIDS-friendly cities, municipalities, and communities.
09:13 With these two initiatives, we hope that the whole nation and the whole government will put their movements in cadence
09:22 to help not only the senior citizens, not only the children, not only the women, but all AIDS groups.
09:30 We hope that our government will be supportive.
09:34 Sir, one of the parts of the action plan for senior citizens is the guidelines of Philippine AIDS-friendly cities and communities.
09:44 What are the goals and importance of this?
09:48 You know, there are international guidelines that have been made.
09:54 And we can see that the international guidelines are really very European or Western in orientation because there are accessibility, infrastructure, etc.
10:09 But there is one value that we have seen in the Filipino which we pride ourselves with.
10:18 And that is, you know, Filipinos are everywhere because Filipinos are caring, Filipinos are loving, Filipinos are caring.
10:30 And that is why we have a very large number of OFW.
10:36 So our OFW is something to be proud of.
10:39 And that comes not just that they are OFW.
10:43 It comes from their upbringing, their families, their families loving each other, their families believing in God,
10:53 their families taking care not just with the family but also neighbors.
10:58 And of course, when they're in the other countries, they care for other people.
11:04 And this value may not be measured just in terms of dollars or pesos because it is built in our culture.
11:13 So that is one measure that we want to reach to all local government units, cities, municipalities, and communities.
11:22 Sana we will be able to develop a homegrown, AIDS-friendly approach of really not just helping the senior citizens but all people of all ages.
11:34 Kumusta na attorney sa ngayon ang inyong database system para sa mga senior citizen?
11:41 Ilan na po ang bilang ng mga nakapagparehistro dito?
11:45 Mam Nina, it's online and that means we're trying to establish the relation between the senior citizen directly sa NCSC.
11:54 Kung ang senior citizen ay nagpapakita ng interest at gumamit ng cellphone na Android, makakapasok siya kagad at ma-online register.
12:05 Of course, alam natin na hindi lahat na senior citizen are literate in terms of the modern technology.
12:13 Pero naniniwala tayo na may anak siya na marunong or may apo siya na marunong.
12:18 Kung walang anak at apo na marunong, may kapitbahay, may organization ng senior citizen, may OSCA pa at may mayor ng munisipyo.
12:28 So kung tutulungan lang si senior citizen, maabot natin yung registration.
12:33 Sa ngayon, we're proud to tell you na umaabot tayo ng 2.8 something, 2.8 million plus na ang nag-register.
12:44 So in fact, isa sa mga excitement ko is how to be able to capture in the data yung 288888 para makita natin na talagang may meaning yung mga registration.
12:58 And of course our target is by December baka maabot natin ang 8-9 million.
13:03 And therefore when the work is transferred to us from the SWD and with the other programs we have over development and nation building, wellness, health and emergency response for the senior, securing the rights of the seniors, readying the seniors for self-care and risk and safety management,
13:25 medyo kayang-kaya ni senior dahil andyan yung database na reliable.
13:32 Q: May elderly week celebration?
13:47 So sa lahat ng senior citizens, the attention being given by government and our nation to the senior citizens has been on the highest level, never been before enjoyed.
14:00 And we are thankful na gawa itong National Commission of Senior Citizens under the office of the President.
14:09 Sana po, i-celebrate natin ang elderly week celebration to the best of what we can.
14:16 We are asking all the local governments to help us in the celebration.
14:21 And of course may word of caution tayo dahil may nangyayaring mga election processes.
14:29 We hope that our local governments will also be mindful na hindi siya maging political because sa municipio na lang natin dapat i-celebrate, yung sa barangay huwag na muna natin i-celebrate.
14:42 And in the municipalities, we hope that we will have on the first day, simba, going to pay our respects to the Lord, sumba, a lot of exercises needed by the senior citizens, and of course sigla and saya.
14:58 We have to be healthy, we have to be happy.
15:01 And we would want our senior citizens groups to go into tree planting if there is, coastal cleaning if there is, maybe medical mission if you have doctors in the municipality, and a lot of other activities.
15:19 And I hope that we will join and we ask our local governments to join in the AIDS-friendly cities, municipalities, and communities, and in supporting the Philippine Plan of Action for the senior citizens.
15:35 As it is, our hands are full. Nire-review pa rin natin yung mga benefits ng senior citizens.
15:41 We want the contribution coming from the senior citizens.
15:44 We seek your support. Let us unite senior citizens.
15:48 God bless everyone and thank you sa bagong Pilipinas ngayon.
15:53 Alright, so subay-bayang po datin yan ang ating mga healthy and happy senior citizens.
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