As the Philippines approaches the projected “aging population” status by 2030, the Commission on Population and Development (CPD) and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) are convening a national consultation to identify policy gaps and strengthen government programs for older Filipinos.
At a Bagong Pilipinas interview on Monday, CPD Undersecretary Lisa Grace Bersales said the consultation aims to assess existing laws and services, and if there are sufficient policies to respond to the country’s shift in age structure and population movement amid the rising number of Filipinos aged 65 and above.
Based on the 2024 census by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the country’s population grew by 0.8 percent yearly from 2020 to 2024, much lower than the 1.6-percent annual increase recorded from 2015 to 2020.
“According to the United Nations, kapag pumalo na ng 7 percent ang mga 65 and above, considered na aging ang population ng Pilipinas (when the population aged 65 and above reaches 7 percent, the Philippines’ population is considered to be aging),” Bersales said.
The CPD said the PSA noted that in 2020, people aged 65 and above accounted for 5.4 percent of the country’s total population, adding that the trend may reach its “peak” by 2050 at about 12 percent.
Bersales said that while the Philippines’ aging population is slower than some of its Asian neighbors like Japan and Thailand, early preparation is crucial to avoid future strains on healthcare, social protection, and community support systems.
She said the national consultation, to be attended by national government agencies, local government units (LGUs), and regional participants, seeks to take a close look at current policies for senior citizens and the elderly, and determine what additional interventions are needed.
“Ang importante ay pagkatapos nitong consultation ay talagang mailista natin, ng Commission on Population and Development kasama ang UNESCAP at ang other agencies tulad ng National Commission on Senior Citizens, ang Department of Economy, Planning and Development, Department of Health –mailista po natin kung ano pa iyong kulang na dapat na ibigay natin sa ating mga senior citizens,” she added.
Meanwhile, among the issues that are expected to be tackled during the consultation are the impact of government digitalization on older persons, particularly their ability to access online services and protect themselves from scams as transactions become paperless and contactless.
The consultation will also look at how existing benefits under the Expanded Senior Citizens Act and universal PhilHealth coverage can be strengthened or complemented.
