FILE PHOTO: Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian —SENATE PRIB
Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian has called for the establishment of homes for the elderly to be managed by local government units (LGUs) amid a growing number of abandoned senior citizens in the country while some end up being abused or exploited.
“Please look into the possibility of LGU-managed homes for the aged because we have noticed the rising instances of abandoned elderlies,” Gatchalian asked the National Commission of Senior Citizens whose proposed budget for 2025 was recently taken up by the Senate.
He said the number of unattended, neglected, and homeless seniors nationwide could not be ignored.
“The number of abandoned senior citizens is increasing and it’s disheartening to see them on the streets,” he noted.
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In the case of Valenzuela City, where the senator hails from, the situation was alarming, prompting the LGU to put up its own shelter for elderly people named Bahay Kanlungan.
Gatchalian has already filed Senate Bill No. 950 or Homes for Abandoned Seniors Act, which seeks the creation of nursing homes for elderlies. These would be operated by the Department of Social Welfare and Development in coordination with the LGUs concerned.
Under the proposed measure, LGUs would be tasked to building these nursing homes for abandoned and homeless senior citizens.
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“It is our duty to ensure that our elderlies have comfortable homes and are receiving proper care. And to ensure that they live with dignity even if they are away from their families, let’s push for the establishment of nursing homes for them in every city and municipality,” said Gatchalian.
Support sought
Under his proposal, nursing homes for homeless and abandoned elderly people shall provide comfortable living quarters, adequate food and clothing, medical consultation or treatment, health care, and counseling, among others.
The senator also called for support for Senate Bill No. 816 which criminalizes abuse against senior citizens amid a growing number of reports about some who were abused, exploited, and neglected.
“I urge the commission to champion and help push the bill. We need to help our elderly citizens who have been neglected by their families,” Gatchalian said.