ENJOYING OR RUING SUNSET YEARS

The treatment of senior citizens is only good for entertainment - free cinema entrance on Mondays and Tuesday and that is only until 4:30 pm. Beyond that we are no longer allowed, dismissed, ignored and barred. 

Here is a situation that is worse: An elderly, Josefina (not her real name) reported that she gets P500 per month pension! Per day that translates to P16.12 a day for 31 days. So what can we buy with that amount? One pack of crackers worth P7 and a cup of coffee at P8 a sachet. So you get an extra P1 for throwing away to co-beggars. 

Josefina cannot get a decent housing; so? she sleeps at bus stations in the evenings where she is allowed to lie on any empty benches. But the timing is important: she should enter when there are not many passengers anymore who should not be bothered by her presence. Does anybody care? She gets her pension every 15fh of the month, rather erratically released.

She was not employed during her younger days but had worked as a vegetable vendor. No, she did not contribute to the SSS or GSIS. But she was productive and did not join the armed struggle nor the underground movement to overthrow the government. Right now, she is still sprightly attending the meetings of the senior citizens. 

Let us compare the pensions given to senior citizens by some Asian countries:

Hongkong - Allowance Amount per month They distinguish between Old age for previously employed I presume; and Normal Old age: 
Old Age Allowance HK$1,385 Normal Old Age Living Allowance HK$2,675 Higher Old Age Living Allowance 3,58; 

in Brunei Bruneians are provided with almost all the basic needs, pension seems like a bonus. Seniors aged 

60 and above receive a B$250 (approx. S$250) monthly, according to a report. 

In Japan seniors who were employed before get ￥780,100/ year (full benefit amount based on 40 years of fully contributed coverage periods). I was not able to get the allowance for normal ageing people, meaning they could have spent their time at home taking care of their families. If the Japanese embassy wishes, it could send me the data and I will upload them here. 

CONVERT NOW THESE ALLOWANCES TO PESOS:

Hongkong =P8,900. Philippine currency

Brunei dollar = P12,500 Philippine currency

Japanese yen =P356,310. Philippine currency

Shocking? Hello! Are we investing in steel and road projects to prepare the roads for smoother driving of cars and vehicles to their destinations and to cemeteries? 

The Department of Social Welfare and Development or DSWD must wake up - you are working too slow in creating a humane society. Social Welfare does not mean just giving allowances regardless of the amount - definitely not a pittance. Social Welfare is rearing and nurturing HUMAN BEINGS not charity recipients. 

Try living on P500 per month -- all officers and employees of DSWD. Let us see if you can stand even one day of that. 

Remember:'To be a Christian is to LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOUR not yourself and your families alone. Think: you cannot possibly live grandly in your sunset years while hundreds of thousands of other Filipino and Filipina

senior citizens are living in hobo style.