What happened in 2008?

The Coalition of Services for the Elderly (COSE) planned an ambitious program of events for 2008.

Up to 2,000 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.

Congresswoman Hontiveros, Florita Villar (Assistant Secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development) and Prospero Nograles (the speaker of the house) all emphasised their support for the campaign and for the bill. They also signed the global petition, pledging their support to older people around the world.

Prior to the October event, COSE took part in a summit for senior citizens and met with delegates twice to agree on their asks and the agenda for the meeting.

Click here to read a press release on the progressof the bill on the Congress of the Philippines website.

Read COSE's blog to keep up-to-date with their Age Demands Action campaign.

You can also read more about COSE's activities on our updates page.

The delegation

Hon Eduardo C Zialcita

Mr Zialcita is Congressman of the first district of Parañaque City, Metro Manila. He is very influential in the House of Representatives and has always been supportive of programmes which benefit older people.

He sponsored the “Expanded Senior Citizens Act 2003” and the bill for a social pension, “The Elderly Poor Pension Act”. Mr Zialcita also hosts a weekly national TV programme called “The Young Once”. He often invites older people involved in COSE's projects to appear as guests.

Hon Anna Theresia Hontiveros-Baraquel

The Ms Hontiveros- Baraquel is an AKBAYAN Partylist Representative and sectoral representative for the issues affecting poor people. She actively fights for better rights for women, older people, farmers and other groups that are often under-represented in government policy and discussion.

Hon Thelma Almario

Ms Almario is Congresswoman for the second district of Davao Oriental.. She has introduced bills to improve healthcare for older people.

Hon Junie E Cua

Mr Cua is congressman for Quirino province. He heads the Committee on Appropriation in Congress, which determines funding sources for all proposed bills. He is also co-author of the "Cheaper Medicine Law".

Hon Darlene Antonino-Custodio

Ms Antonino-Custodio is Congresswoman for the first district of South Cotabato. She is a highly respected legislator who supported the "Expanded Senior Citizens Act" and the Magna Carta for older people. She is currently involved in amending the "Expanded Senior Citizens Act" to increase the privileges for senior citizens.

Hon Liwayway Chato-Vinzons

Mr Chato-Vinzons is Congressman for Camarines Norte. He has signed a petition and vowed to seek support for the social pension for older people.

Hon Lorenzo Tañada III

Mr Tañada III is Congressman for the third district of Quezon City. He is supportive of social issues, and sent representatives to the COSE office to discuss community-based programmes.

Hon Nanette Daza Castelo

Ms Castelo is Congresswoman for the fourth district of Quezon City. She is the proponent of hospital care for all older people in Congress.

Highlights from 2007

• The government declared the first week of October as 'Week of the Elderly'.
• 700 older people were mobilised and marched to the two houses of congress.