Bienvenido R. Rola, Ph.D. Adjunct Prof., Institute of Strategic Planning and Policy Studies University of the Philippine

1. Shanghai Civil Affairs Bureau 2006 Shanghai International Symposium on Caring for the Elderly26-29 June 2006 The evolving role of NGOs in meeting the challenges of ageing:a Philippine perspective Bienvenido R. Rola, Ph.D. Adjunct Prof., Institute of Strategic Planning and Policy Studies University of the Philippines - Los Baños College, Laguna, Philippines and President, ASEAN NGO Coalition on Ageing Vice President for International Affairs, Aging Pilipino Organization (APO) Vice President for International Affairs, Philippine Association of Gerontology

2. Whose perspective? Participants • Older persons • Advocates • Planners • Implementers Spectators or observers • General public • Media • Academe • international community

3. Overview of Philippine perspective Global framework • Population ageing (migration) • Trade liberalization National circumstances • Population ageing (migration) • Socio-economic situation (poverty) • Environment & natural resources • Government & governance (Gov-NGO cooperation)

4. The challenges: Achieving socio-economic development for all Equitable sharing of benefits Enhancing situation of older persons while building a society for all ages

5. Meeting the challenge: The Philippine Plan of Action for Senior Citizens (PPASC), 2005-2010

6. Evolution of the PPASC: Plans • Macao Plan of Action on Ageing in Asia and the Pacific (1998) • Philippine Plan of Action for Older Persons, 1999-2004 (1999) • Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing (2002) • Shanghai Implementation Strategy (2002) • Philippine Plan of Action for Senior Citizens, 2005-2010

7. Evolution of the PPASC:from Macao and Madrid to Shanghai Shanghai Implementation Strategy wasdesigned to implement the • Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing and • the Macao Plan of Action on Ageing for Asia and the Pacific

8. Evolution of PPASC:from Shanghai to Manila The Philippine Plan of Action for Senior Citizens (PPASC), 2005-2010 has been designed to: • implement national policies on ageing • support international and regional mandates, on ageing (MIPAA, MAPAA and SIS) and • support objectives of the Millennium Development Goals.

9. The PPASCPriority action areas: • Senior citizens and development • Advancing health and well being into old age • Ensuring enabling and supportive environments • Implementation and follow-up

10. PPASC, 2005-2010 Priority action areas: 1. Senior citizens and development • Organize functional OSCAs • Develop/strengthen databank on SCs • Enable passage of new legislation on ageing • Expand pension coverage • Develop appropriate anti-poverty programme • Promote positive image of senior citizens and ensure advocacy • Enhance support for family and caregivers …

11. PPASC, 2005-2010 Priority action areas 2. Advancing health and wellbeing into old age • Promote active ageing while enhancing the quality of life of senior citizens • Establish geriatric wards • Institutionalize gerontology training curricula and courses • Expand coverage/improve accessibility and affordability of social and health care …

12. PPASC, 2005-2010 Priority action areas 3. Ensuring enabling and supportive environments • Strengthen the capabilities of the family as the traditional source of support and care for senior citizens • Develop/replicate new and existing innovative community-based programmes for senior citizens particularly the indigent • Enhance quality care standards • Improve the built and transportation environment …

13. PPASC, 2005-2010 Priority action areas 4. Implementation and follow up National level • Republic Act (RA) 9257 and Implementing Rules and Regulations • National Inter-agency Coordinating and Monitoring Board (NCMB) • Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) - Lead Agency to DOLE, DepEd, DOH, DOJ, DOTC, HUDCC, DILG and Civil society partners (NGOs). Regional and local levels • Regional inter-agency Committees for PPASC, 2005-2010 – DSWD and partners (NGOs) • Local level – Local government and Office of Senior Citizens’ Affairs (OSCA) and partners (NGOs)

14. Evolving role of NGOs:the changing framework • needs-based to rights-based approach • ignorance to awareness • passive to active mode • dependency to partnership • advocacy and self-help • developing social capital, family & community resources and capabilities

15. Implementation of PPASC, 2005-2010: Role of NGOs National level • The National Coordinating and Monitoring Board (NCMB) has five NGO members led by the national Federation of Senior Citizens Associations whose members include village level associations of senior citizens Regional and local level • NGOs are also well represented at the Regional Interagency Committees for the Philippine Plan of Action for Senior Citizens • An Office of Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA), headed by a senior citizen, is established in each municipality. In collaboration with NGOs in the community, it plans, implements and monitors yearly work programmes in implementation of the PPASC.

16. Implementation of PPASC, 2005-2010: Note on role of NGOs Important supportive and partnership roles are played by NGOs operating outside the sphere of the national, regional and local level implementation mechanisms, e.g., religious, business, gender, youth, environment, community and other interest groups

17. Plan Implementation: Findings of evaluation exercise of Interagency Committee on implementation of PPAOP, 1999-2004 Poor implementation performance, Obstacles: • low or no budget appropriations, e.g., DSWD • setting of unattainable goals (or no goals) • low participation rates of senior citizens owing to poverty, ignorance or indifference • poor coordination

18. Plan implementation:Findings from pilot community workshops/seminars on local level implementation of MIPAA and RA 9257 Poor implementation performance Obstacles: General lack of awareness of laws, rights and entitlements Low participation rates of senior citizens owing largely to income/cost constraints

19. Follow up at national level – Government/NGOs • Low or no budget appropriations - Provide funding - Create a Commission for Senior Citizens • Setting of unattainable goals (or no goals) - Set attainable, budget-based goals • Low participation rates of senior citizens owing to poverty, ignorance or indifference - Raise awareness, empower, incentives • Poor coordination - Coordinate

20. Follow up at local level – Government/NGOs General lack of awareness of laws, rights and entitlements - Further awareness-raising and training Low participation rates of senior citizens owing largely to income/cost constraints - Provide financial support and/or incentives, empower, promote ownership

21. CONCLUSION:Towards better plan implementation • The Government cannot do it (implement MIPAA) alone but it should lead, coordinate, and facilitate as well as provide financial support to the PPASC implementation programme. A Commission for older Persons would be a vital element. • NGOs (all of them) have very important roles to play at all levels. Partnerships with them and among them should be developed to promote advocacy and self-help initiatives as well as to implement programmes

22. CONCLUSION:Towards better plan implementation 3. Both Government and NGOs should optimize use of available resources including: - older persons themselves who can provide a multitude of services to their respective communities - the Filipino family and its traditions of caring and support - the “bayanihan” or helping hand spirit from members of the community - members of other communities, in the Philippines and abroad, who have ideas and success stories to share - unused or idle resources in a sustainable development context.

23. Follow up of a new NGO in the block: Aging Pilipino Organization (APO) • New members – 36 to 59 year-olds • New advocacy goals - advocating creation of a Commission for Senior Citizens - advocating social pension legislation • New self-help approaches - establishing multi-purpose co-operatives - developing family and community approach to social pension • New public service approach - providing services to the community, e.g., research (listening to OPs), awareness raising, training caregivers, legal and technical assistance, emergency assistance, etc)

24. Follow up of a new NGO in the block: Aging Pilipino Organization (APO) • New partners - developing partnerships with other social groups in the community - developing partnerships with international groups with common interest • New resource use optimization approach - promoting optimized use of unused or idle resources for active ageing, sustainable environmental or developmental (income or employment) purposes, e.g., flower or herbal gardening in vacant urban land, fast-growing tree farming cum-commercial crop production in barren farm land, deforested or degraded forests or coastal land, etc.

25. Thank you! Salamat!