A lawmaker has renewed his call for local government-run nursing homes for abandoned elderly citizens and for the criminalization of elder abuse to address the growing mistreatment and neglect of senior citizens.

Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian made the call during recent Senate deliberations on the 2025 budget for the National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC), urging the government to strengthen protections for the elderly amid rising concerns about seniors abandoned by their families and subjected to abuse.

“We must ensure that our elderly are not abandoned or mistreated. It is heart-wrenching to see elderly citizens left on the streets or suffering in silence due to abuse within their own families. The state has a responsibility to protect them,” Gatchalian stressed.

In 2022, Gatchalian filed Senate Bill No. 950, which calls for local government-managed nursing homes for abandoned seniors. 

Under the bill, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is mandated to coordinate with local government units (LGUs) in creating safe and supportive environments for elderly individuals without families or unable to care for themselves.

Gatchalian is also advocating for SB No. 816, which seeks to criminalize the abuse of senior citizens, in response to the alarming rise in cases of exploitation, neglect, and mistreatment.

The senator cited statistics from the University of the Philippines-National College of Public Administration and Governance, which found that family members—particularly children and spouses—are often the perpetrators of elder abuse. 

Gatchalian added that many elderly victims are reluctant to report abuse due to fear, further underscoring the need for stronger legal protections and resources.

“In many cases, elderly victims suffer in silence, afraid to speak out. We need to make it clear that abuse of the elderly will not be tolerated, and that our senior citizens deserve to live with dignity and respect,” Gatchalian furthered.

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