DSWD throws support behind bill protecting seniors, parents vs. abuse

Published March 29, 2012 8:47am

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has proposed enhancements to a bill seeking to protect parents, senior citizens and the elderly from financial hardships caused by children or grandchildren who abandoned them.

In a news release issued Wednesday, the DSWD said it has submitted its recommendations to the House of Representatives’ Committee on Population and Family Relations.

House Bill 2295, a bill for the “The Maintenance and Welfare of Parents, Senior Citizens, and Elderly Act of 2010,” notes many children have totally abandoned their parents for selfish reasons.

Among the DSWD’s proposed amendments to the bill are:

include provision for social workers to handle the cases of families involved to assess the relationships and capabilities of the individuals before the filing of cases;
have the Public Attorney’s Office provide legal services on court-related complaints to be filed by elderly and senior citizens; and
add a provision to specify who may file for support in behalf of the parent or the elderly/senior citizen such as: DSWD and local social workers or at least two concerned responsible persons residing in the same city or municipality as the parent or elderly/senior citizen

The proposed law is a brainchild of Senior Citizens party-list Rep. Godofredo Arquiza, vice chairman of the House Committee of Social Services and Veterans Affairs and Welfare. –KG, GMA News

Tags: dswd, seniorcitizen, elderly, godofredoarquiza