DAVAO CITY—The country’s elderly population is expected to hit 9.4 million by 2010, but government programs to make them feel they are part of society are not enough, an official of the National Statistics Office (NSO) said.
The NSO said that based on its May 2000 survey, there are about 4.6 million elderly Filipinos—those 60 years old and above. More than half are women.
Benedicta Yabut, officer in charge of the NSO’s demographic and social statistics division, said the majority of the country’s aging population felt they were no longer part of society.
This could be due to the lack of services aimed at the so-called gray population, she said.
“This early, there should be plans for the elderly like social security benefits, especially for those who are self-employed,” Yabut said.
In Southern Mindanao , the elderly population is 5-5.7 percent in 2000 and is projected to increase by up to 10 percent beginning 2010.
“By 2040, the country’s elderly population would increase by 16 percent,” Yabut said, citing the NSO data.
Yabut said studies showed that elderly Filipinos were considered assets, not liabilities, because they could still do house chores or look after children.
But as they grow old, they could only depend on help from relatives.
“At this stage, everyone should think of the retirement and other social security benefits for the elders,” Yabut said.
