I.          Rationale

The 1995 National Census placed the population of older persons 60 years old and above as 5.4% or 3.7 million of the total population of 68.6 million. This total comprises 1.9 million male elderly and 1.7 million female elderly. In 1996, the average life expectancy for Filipinos is 67.3 with Filipino males having an average life expectancy of 65.13 years while females have an average life expectancy of 70.30 (NSCB, 1996). With the increase in life expectancy, this sector is estimated to rise to 15 million by year 2030.

In recognition of the emerging importance of Older Persons as a social sector in nation-building and of the determined efforts of the State, particularly in recent years, to provide them opportunities for total development, the Congress enacted two significant laws namely:

1.         Republic Act 7432, an Act to Maximize the Contribution of Senior Citizens to Nation-Building, Grant Benefits and Special Privileges and for other Purposes. This law recognizes the duty of the family to take care of its elderly members and of the state to design programs of social security for them, to provide social justice in all phases of national development and to adopt an integrated and comprehensive approach to health development.

2.    Republic Act 7876, otherwise known as the Senior Citizens Center Act which mandates the establishment of a Senior Citizens Center (SCC) in all cities and municipalities of the Philippines, and appropriate funds therefor. This law was enacted in line with the declared policy of the State to provide adequate social services and improved quality of life for all. It provides that the State shall adopt an integrated approach towards health development giving priority to older persons. In accordance with this policy, a Senior Citizens Center in all cities and municipalities of the Philippine shall be established whereby older persons can get together to meet their mutual needs. Rule III, Article 6, of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of RA 7876 states that the Local Government Units (LGUs), cities and municipalities, shall be called upon to provide administrative support and supervision to the Senior Citizens Center which shall be administered, managed and operated by the Federation of Senior Citizens Association of the Philippines (FSCAP) while the DSWD shall provide technical assistance/supervision.

To operationalize the Senior Citizen's Centers (SCC), the following guidelines are being issued as reference of the DSWD Field Offices, the Local Government Units, the Federation of Senior Citizens Associations of the Philippines (FSCAP) and other stakeholders in the management of these centers.

II.         Objectives of the Center

a)      Identify the needs, trainings, and opportunities of senior citizens in the cities and municipalities;

b)      Initiate, develop and implement productive activities and work schemes for senior citizens in order to provide income or otherwise supplement their earnings in the local community;

c)      Promote and maintain linkages with provincial government units and other instrumentalities of government and the city and municipal councils for the elderly and the Federation of Senior Citizens Associations of the Philippines and other government organizations for the delivery of health care services, facilities, professional advice services, volunteer training and community self-help projects.

III.        Definition of Terms

The following terms shall be defined as follows:

1.           Senior citizen - shall refer to any person who is at least sixty (60) years of age.

2.           Center - refers to the place established in this Act with recreational, educational, health and social programs and facilities designed for the full enjoyment and benefit of the senior citizens in the city or municipality. It can be any available sheltered structure, a spacious room in a private or public building, a room attached to a community center, a barangay hall or chapel.

3.           Department of Social Welfare and Development - otherwise known as DSWD, shall mean the national office located at Batasan Complex, Quezon City and it's field offices in the fifteen (15) regions of the country and DSWD-ARMM.

4.           Municipality/City Federation of Senior Citizens - an organization of Senior Citizens in the locality which is affiliated with the Federation of Senior Citizens Associations of the Philippines (FSCAP) duly recognized by the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

5.           Local Government Units (LGUs) - refer to the territorial and political subdivisions of the state which include the cities and municipalities.

IV.       Programs and Services

a)           Social and recreational services such as social interaction with peers, counselling, active participation in sports, recreation and socio-cultural activities and holding of special celebration to recognize the contributions of the senior citizens.

b)           Health and personal care such as regular physical and dental check-up, eye care, lectures on proper health and nutrition, and how to grow old gracefully.

c)           Spiritual services such as bible studies, special masses, retreats, and other kinds of religious services, preparation for death and support services for the dying and their families.

d)           Self-employment assistance to supplement their earnings.

e)           Volunteer resource services such as identification/recruitment, training and mobilization of Senior Citizens for community volunteer works where they can share their time, talent, resources and willingness to be involved in community development.

f)            Other services which the DSWD and other coordinating agencies may deem necessary for the benefit of the senior citizens.

VI.       Staffing/Functions

There shall be a full time center manager with the following functions:

> Oversee operations of the Center	> Represent the Center in meetings, conferences and other center transactions
> Take charge in the management of funds	> Monitor and assess the activities/projects of the center
> Provide supervision and direction of staff/volunteers in relation to their roles and responsibilities

There shall be a part-time social worker who maybe or may not be from the city or municipal social welfare development office:

> Implement social services as provided in the guidelines	> Prepare and submit reports
> Assist the Center Manager in monitoring/evaluating the activities/projects of the Center	> Maintain and update records of clients
> Maintain linkages with GOs, NGOs and POs	> Maintain a directory of volunteers

V.        Roles and Responsibilities

1.         DSWD - Central Office

1.1    Develop policies, standards, programs and services for the operations of the senior citizens center.

1.2    Conduct regular technical assistance to the field office staff who are involved in the monitoring of the center's operation.

1.3    Evaluate the operation of the SCC to ensure its efficiency and effectiveness.

1.4    Conduct documentation on the project implementation including success stories and best practices which can be used for advocacy.

1.5    Accredit Senior Citizens Center and Senior Citizen's Volunteers who shall assist in the operation of the center to ensure adherence to the standards set by the DSWD.

2.         DSWD - Field Office

2.1    Validate target beneficiaries, requirements in the establishment of SCC.

2.2    Conduct training of implementors in coordination with the DSWD - Central Office.

2.3    Conduct regular technical assistance to the staff and volunteers involved in the operations of the center and monitor the operations of the center.

2.4    Participate in the evaluation of the center's operations.

2.5    Ensure that the agreement with the LGUs as stipulated in the MOA signed between Field Office and the Local Government Unit concerned, is implemented.

2.6    Submit periodic report to Central Office on the implementation of the project.

3.         Local Government Unit

3.1    Identify target beneficiaries and undertake social preparation activities for older persons' active involvement in the operation of the Senior Citizens Center.

3.2    Designate a Social Worker to be assigned in the SCC.

3.3    Assist the DSWD in the evaluation and documentation of the project.

3.4    Assist the FSCAP in the continuous operation and management of the Center

3.5    Assist and supervise the Senior Citizens in planning, managing and implementing their own programs.

3.6    Assist the DSWD in the evaluation and documentation of the project.

4.         FSCAP

4.1    Manage, operate, maintain the Senior Citizens Center and facilitate the implementation of programs and services in consultation with LGU and DSWD Field Office.

4.2    Conduct resource-generating activities for implementation of the programs/services at the SCC.

4.3    Participate in the formulation, development and implementation of policies directly affecting the older persons and their organizations.

4.4    Assist the DSWD in the evaluation and documentation of the project.

This Department Order shall take effect immediately.

Adopted: 30 August 1999

(SGD.) BELINDA C. MANAHAN
Undersecretary for Management and Officer-in-Charge