The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has appealed for stronger community structures to protect the elderly following the recent incident in Antipolo, Rizal where an elderly person with disability was mocked by four men as shown in a video that went viral on March 31.
“Let this incident be a reminder to all that our senior citizens have rights that are protected by the State. Hindi pwede yung bibiru-biruin at parang pinaglalaruan sila porke hindi na sila malakas physically para umangal,” DSWD spokesperson Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao said on Wednesday (April 9).
The DSWD spokesperson also enjoined local government units (LGUs) to replicate the agency’s Reporting System and Prevention Program for Elderly Abuse Cases (ReSPPEC) which is an innovative program that aims to safeguard the elderly.
“Sa Pilipinas, ang pang-aabuso sa mga matatanda ay hindi pa kasing laganap, pero hindi na ito bago sa modernong kulturang Pilipino. Kahit kilala ang bansa natin na may paggalang sa mga magulang at matatanda, hindi kasing bihira ang kaso ng pag-aabuso sa mga senior citizens gaya ng inaakala ng marami,” Asst. Secretary Dumlao stressed.
The DSWD spokesperson said the ReSPPEC was developed primarily to address cases of abuse in the Philippines.
The ReSPPEC is a community-based program which aims to protect the rights and safety of the older persons by strengthening partnerships and networks among the senior citizens’ sector, stakeholders, and LGUs.
Although not prevalent, there are reported situations wherein older persons suffer greatly either from family members or from strangers, according to the spokesperson.
Under the ReSPPEC, a holistic system is put into place at the community level which provides for the reporting, investigating, intervening, and monitoring of the elderly, especially if there are cases of abuse.
“Maliban dito, binibigyan din ng nararapat na follow-up services ang mga senior citizens na nagiging biktima ng abuse,” Asst. Secretary Dumlao pointed out.
According to the DSWD official, the ReSPPEC was pilot implemented in San Carlos, Pangasinan; Lambunao, Iloilo; Maco, Davao de Oro; and, in Valenzuela City, the National Capital Region.
The pilot areas established a Protective Committee for Senior Citizens (PCSC) and an Elderly Help Desk.
Other components of the program include the creation of a referral network for services, the development of a reporting mechanism for elder abuse; the conduct of an elder abuse awareness advocacy program; and capability building of stakeholders.
“Isa ang ReSPPEC sa mga programa ng DSWD para sa pamilya na pinopromote natin para i-replicate ng mga lokal na pamahalaan. Napapanahon ito para bigyan natin ng kaukulang respeto ang mga nakatatandang Pilipino at hindi na maulit yung pangyayari sa Rizal,” Asst. Secretary Dumlao said.
The DSWD spokesperson said the agency is willing to provide guidance and technical assistance to the LGUs wanting to replicate the ReSPPEC in their communities in order to prevent elderly abuse and provide adequate interventions to those at risk.
This program is pursuant to the goals of Republic Act 9257 (Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2003) to combat violence on the elderly and the provision of adequate social services for their improved quality of life.