46
2020 Annual Report on the Human Rights Situation in the Philippines
and older people who live
with children who can’t
be entrusted to go outside
unsupervised, face greater
vulnerability to losing the
ability to procure basic
needs.197
146
The
DSWD
has
announced the suspension
of the Social Pension
for
Indigent
Senior
Citizens and other social
protection programs. Of
the 3.7 million target
beneficiaries
of
the
program in 2020, 43% or
1.6 million are in Luzon,
who will be affected by
the suspension of the
program. Aside from this, as of 6 March 2020, about a quarter or 25% of beneficiaries
in 2019 have not received their social pension. On 27 March 2020, the DSWD issued a
memorandum circular on the continuation of the program, however, it is still uncertain
when the social pension will be delivered to older persons.198
147
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) adopted a rights-based
and non-discriminatory policy that respects the freedom of movement of older persons in
areas under community quarantine and, at the same time, installs protective measures for
older persons. Policy development was undertaken in collaboration with Older Persons
through non-government organizations, such as the Coalition of Services for the Elderly,
the Confederation of Older Persons Associations in the Philippines, and the Seniors sa
197
See A/HRC/45/NI/10.
198
See CHR (V) A2020-007.