MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte has signed a law creating the National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC) to provide service and activities beneficial to the elderly.
Duterte signed Republic Act 11350 on July 25, a copy of the law was released to the media on Friday.
The new law also abolished the National Coordinating and Monitoring Board, which was created by virtue of the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010.
Under the law, the commission would be composed of a chairperson and six commissioners from different regions appointed by the President.
The NCSC will appoint an executive director who will be responsible for implementing the policies, regulations and directives of the body.
The law transferred “all functions, programs, projects and activities” of the Department of Social Welfare and Development “for the poor, vulnerable and disadvantaged senior citizens” to the NCSC.
Among the functions of the Commission are to “establish and maintain cooperations and consultations with local government units and national government agencies on all matters pertaining to the general welfare of senior citizens,” “formulate policies for the promotion and protection of the rights and well-being of senior citizens,” “ensure the full implementation of laws, policies and programs of the government pertaining to senior citizens.”
The law said the funding of the Commission shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act. /jpv