POPCOM: Philippines should prepare for 'graying' population

The Philippines should start preparing for the “graying” of its population with the increase in the number of senior citizens, the Commission on Population and Development (POPCOM) said on Tuesday.

In Maki Pulido’s report on “24 Oras”, POPCOM Executive Director Juan Antonio Perez said the government should establish measures to address the aging population following the latest Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) report showing that the number of senior citizens doubled in the last two decades.

From the 4,565,560 reported in 2000, individuals aged 60 and above in the Philippines are now at 9,222,672.

POPCOM is expecting the figures to continue an upward trend from year 2035 to 2040 reaching about 19 million, which is enough for the country's population to be considered "graying".

"Lumiliit, kumikipot 'yung mga mas bata at lumalaki 'yung ating working and senior population,” Perez said. 

(The population of young Filipinos is lesser and narrower while the working and senior population is growing in number.)

According to the PSA report, the population of Filipino children aged 0-15 years old likewise grew during the same period. A total of 33,414,245 were reported in 2022 while 28,313,897 individuals were recorded in 2000.

The PSA also reported that live births in the country are dwindling down to the lowest percentage recorded at 8.7 percent in 2020. This report is posted as the United Nations Development Program data shows that the average life expectancy in the Philippines improved to 79 years old in 2019, in contrast to 66 years old reported in 1990.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), for its part, said around 50 percent of the senior citizens in the country are indigents. And about 80 percent of them, POPCOM added, have no social pensions.

“Mag-set aside ng more resources for our seniors. (We should set aside more resources for our seniors.) Otherwise, we will have to pay for it through higher healthcare costs and social services,” Perez added.

The DSWD said it currently provides various types of programs for senior citizens including a monthly social pension of P500. The agency added that it will coordinate with other government offices to prepare for the “graying” of the population.

“It should be not just the Commission, but everyone. It should be local government, national government,” said National Commission of Senior Citizens Chairperson Franklin Quijano.

GMA News reached out to Malacañang for their programs for senior citizens. -- Sundy Locus/BAP, GMA News