Manila: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is committed to pushing for more programs that will benefit the elderly, Malaca±ang said on Friday. 'Sa ating pagkakaalam, sa ngayon po ay marami ding programa para sa mga senior citizens (As far as we know, there are also many programs for senior citizens),' Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said in a press conference, when asked to react to public criticisms on the supposed failure of the government to provide for the needs of the elderly.
According to Philippines News Agency, Castro said senior citizens are given priority when there is a distribution of government assistance. She also cited the recent launch of a 50-percent fare discount for senior citizens in Metro Manila's train systems.
'Hindi po rin naman titigil ang Pangulo na tulungan. Mas dagdagan pa ang mga ayuda para sa mga elderlies natin. So, huwag po muna sigurong maging negatibo, tingnan muna nila kung ano na ba ang nagawa ng administrasyon na ito para sa mga elder (The President will not stop helping. He will even increase the aid for our elderly. So, let's not be negative. Let's first see what this administration has done for the elders),' she said.
Pressed further if the Palace supports measures penalizing negligent children who abandon elderly parents, Castro said the provisions of the bill must be studied first, stressing that 'it depends on the situation.' This, as Castro acknowledged that some are incapable of providing financial support to their aging parents.
'Mayroon na po kasing probisyon sa Family Code, Article 194 kung saan isinasaad na iyong magulang at mga anak, they should mutually support each other. Provided na po iyan. Ang kaibahan na lamang po siguro dito ay maaaring gawin itong isang krimen, dahil ipe-penalize (There is already a provision in the Family Code, Article 194, which states that parents and children should mutually support each other. That is already provided. The only difference here is that it can be made a crime, because it will be penalized),' she said.
'Now, kapag ginawang krimen, ulitin natin, kailangan nating makita iyong probisyon. Dahil baka naman may kakayanan talaga ng anak na sumuporta at in need ang magulang, tingnan po natin kung dapat ngang gawin itong krimen. Dahil hindi naman po magiging krimen kung iyong mga anak din naman ay in need (Now, if it is made a crime, let's repeat, we need to see that provision. Because maybe the child really has the ability to support the parent and is in need, let's see if it should be made a crime. Because it wouldn't be a crime if the children were also in need).'
Senator Panfilo Lacson has refiled his proposed Parents Welfare Act of 2025, seeking to penalize children who fail to provide support to their 'aging, sick, and incapacitated parents.'
