On Sunday 27 September, the worst flooding in over 40 years hit Manila, the capital of the Philippines, affecting almost half a million people and leaving 140 dead.

The HelpAge Global Network partner, COSE, have cancelled their plans for ADA to meet with local government officials, and instead are focusing their energies on helping those affected by the floods.

Many of COSE's staff have seen their homes flooded and some were stranded on rooftops for over 8 hours. But thankfully none lost their lives.

A meeting between older people's groups and COSE has taken place today (29 September) to identify those communities and older people who are most in need. Relief supplies will be packed and shipped by older people to help their peers in the worst affected areas.

More updates on how COSE are using their ADA funds to deliver relief will follow soon. In the meantime, details of what COSE were planning for ADA 2009 can be seen below:

What's happening in 2009?

With the 2010 elections approaching in the Philippines, the HelpAge global netowork partner, COSE, are focusing their efforts at the local level to impress on government officials the importance of taking action. Key policy asks are:

• A pension for the poorest older people
• For the 1% of barangay budgets scheduled to be spent on older people, to be spent quickly and appropriately, bearing in mind the needs and views of older people.

COSE will be working in partnership with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to hold Kapehan (or coffee mornings) with local government leaders where older people will present their issues and concerns.

Below the planning group of older people make their voices heard, and raise their index fingers in support of Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which states: ALL people are born free and equal in dignity and rights:

And COSE has made great strides in reaching out to the younger generation to create solidarity in support of older people. Here a group of students in Manila call for action on ageing and equal rights for older people.

On top of this COSE has conducted video interviews with older people across Manilla to understand their thoughts on action that is needed. Below you can hear Maria tell us her thoughts:

Building on this great work, and using COSE's links with older people's groups in the Metro Manila area, a delegation has been formed which includes:

Tatay Disocorro Benalla is the president of the Confederation of Older Persons Association of the Philippines (COPAP). He does not recieve a pension but despite his struggle to make ends meet offers his services to COPAC voluntarily.

• Nanay Estrella Buelo  (left) is the President of Quiapo Tanglaw Buhay Elderly organisation and she serves as the Zone chair of the 4 organisations of older people in the area. She is also the leader of a group of women who visit the city jail to share food and solidarity with women prisoners (a number of them are older people). She has been chosen as one of the ten outstanding elderly of 2009 from a nationwide canvas. She also has no pension of any kind.
• Nanay Eleonor Guilles  (right) is the President of Roxas Elderly Group. She lives in the poorest and most flood prone area of Quezon City.

Tatay Eduardo Albonia is the president of Graceville Elderly Organization. He was instrumental in lobbying the local government of Graceville to grant the minimal pension to the poorest older people. To date, Graceville has been the only Barangay to grant a pension for the deprived, but provides a pattern for other organised groups of older people.

Tatay Paulo Deyan (left) is a leader of a homogenous tribal community transposed into Manila that adds an important dimension to the delegation. He also has no pension but is very industrious and coordinates a successful income generating programme. His trademark is to appear at functions without shoes or slippers.

Nanay Teresita Dayag (right) is the Secretary of COPAP. She is also very active in her local organisation – the Quiapo Tanglawa Buhay Elderly organisation - and one of the extremely committed leaders of the local church organisation. She does not receive a pension.

Other delegates include older people's association members: Tatay Jesus Carredo, Nanay Eleonor Guilles,
Nanay Estrella Buelo, Nanay Eleonor Guilles, Tatay Abelardo Ducusin, Tatay Hipolito Hispano, Nanay Elizabeth,
Nanay Paz Basconcillo and Tatay Crispulo Migrino. They will be supported by prominent politicians and celebrities who include:

• Ms. Encarnacion G. Blanco, Assistant Secretary, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG): Ms Blanco is the vice chairperson for the National Coordinating and Monitoring Board (NCMB) that oversees the implementation of the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2003 (ESCA) and other laws concerning older people.  She is very much involved in COSE's campaign to influence local government units to establish programmes using the 1% budget allocated for older people and people with disabilities.

• Ms. Alice Bala, Undersecretary, Department of Social Welfare and Development: Ms Bala is the Undersecretary for Policy and Programme Bureau of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). She is the head of the National Coordinating and Monitoring Board (NCMB) and very active regarding the rights of older people.

Noel Cabangon became a household name when his song “Kanlungan” gained huge success. Every true Philippino of any generation could not have possibly missed the simple yet touching melody that once graced television advertisements. He is very active in supporting older people's campaigns and is always willing to deliver a song for older people whenever events are organised.

Hon. Pia Cayetano, Senator, Philippines. Ms Cayetano is one of the sponsors for the Cheaper Medicine Law and now the chair of the Committee on Social Justice, Welfare and Rural Development in the Philippine Senate that tackles the bills for older people. She also is very supportive of older people issues and concerns.

What happened in 2008?

Over 1,500 older people walked to congress on 30 September. Once there, delegates met with legislators to push for a bill on social pensions to be made law.

Asks included a commitment from the government to:

• Amend the Expanded Senior Citizens Act to remove the 12% VAT rate from purchases made by older people
• Implement the House Bill 2765 and the Senate Bill 1657. This will ensure that social pensions will be made available to the poorest older people.

To hear more about what happened see the interview below with the COSE campaign organiser, Generosa.