GENDER OMBUD REPORT 2016 • Senior citizens also lack information on their benefits and privileges as senior citizens stipulated in the law. • Some establishments are reluctant, if not outright refusing, to implement the law’s provisions on senior citizens discounts. They find ways to circumvent its implementation citizens, for instance, refusing to grant senior citizen discount on the second purchase of medicines without new prescriptions. Some drugstores even claim that the medicines are not available to avoid selling them at discounted prices to senior citizens. Travel discounts are also unevenly applied across various modes of transportation. Some tricycle drivers refuse elderly passengers because of fare discounts. • The social pension scheme for senior citizens is not properly implemented, and there are cases of eligible seniors being excluded from the program. • Age discrimination in employment hinders senior citizens from acquiring jobs. WOMEN MIGRANT WORKER AND THEIR FAMILIES • There were two main issues raised in the focus group discussions with regard to migrant women: the impact of their absence on their children, and the risk of contracting HIV AIDS. WOMEN IN THE INFORMAL ECONOMY The issues faced by women in the informal economy were raised in the Region V and Region XI FGDs. The issues include heavy or difficult work for low income, lack of social security, and vulnerability to discrimination, exploitation and abuse in the 28 22 work place. Informal work also presents very limited or no opportunities for personal development (e.g. education). Domestic helpers in particular, work for low salaries because they lack information on the minimum wage and benefits mandated by the Kasambahay Law (R.A. 10361). PROSTITUTED WOMEN Poor women from remote areas are vulnerable to trafficking and forced prostitution. Some women opt to remain in prostitution due to lack of opportunities to change their lives (whether these are through employment, livelihood opportunities, or education), or the social stigma and discrimination that bar their access to these. Violence and risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections and diseases are part of the reality of many prostituted women, yet support services to address these are often absent or limited. In cases of VAW, the police often do not entertain their complaints of abuse and assault by clients, or the physical, psychological, or financial abuse of their “managers”. Women working in nightclubs are stereotyped as prostituted women, and are also vulnerable to discrimination from society. LESBIANS, GAYS, BISEXUALS, TRANSGENDERS AND INTERSEXS (LGBTI) Various forms of discrimination against LGBTIs were noted in CHR Regional Consultations. These include the following: • LGBTIs experience physical and verbal violence, bullying and even threats to their lives because of their SOGIE. Hate crimes against LGBTIs were also documented. Within their families, some LGBTIs suffer discrimination and lack of acceptance from their loved ones. • LGBTIs issues are not prioritized in LGU Based on 2010 data of the Philippine Statistical Authority (Retrieved from https://psa.gov.ph/content/senior-citizen-comprised-six-percent-population)