ELDERLY SECTOR

Senior citizens or those aged 60 years old and over

comprise 6.8% of the Philippines total population.
United Nations Principles for Older
Persons:
In December 1991, the UN General Assembly adopted
The United Nations Principles for Older Persons, which
were proclaimed again during the International Year of
Older Persons in 1999.
United Nations Principles for Older
Persons:
Governments were encouraged to incorporate these five
principles into their national programs:
Independence
Participation
Care
Self-fulfilment
Dignity
Elderly in the Philippines:
In the traditional Filipino families, the elderly are looked up
with respect and reverence. They stay their families for so
long as they want to which may be attributed to strong
family bonds. This is one Filipino trait which you cannot
always find in other cultures. In most countries, elders are
placed in institution.

In the Philippines, there are rarely record of physical and

mental abuse among elderly people, however, the plight of
the elderly mendicants roaming around the cities needs to
be attended to.
National Mandates:
RA 7432. An Act To Maximize The Contribution Of
Senior Citizens To Nation Building, Grant Benefits And
Special Privileges And For Other Purposes (The
Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2003)

RA 7876. An Act Establishing A Senior Citizens Center

In All Cities And Municipalities Of The Philippines, And
Appropriating Funds Therefore
National Mandates:
RA 9994. An Act Granting Additional Benefits And
Privileges To Senior Citizens, Further Amending
Republic Act No. 7432, As Amended, Otherwise Known
As An Act To Maximize The Contribution Of Senior
Citizens To Nation Building, Grant Benefits And Special
Privileges And For Other Purposes

RA 10645, amended RA 9994 to provide mandatory

Phil Health coverage for all senior citizens.
Summary of Senior Citizen Privileges:
DISCOUNTS
20% discount on:
Medical-related privileges
Medicine and drug purchases
Medical supplies, accessories and equipment
Medical and dental services
Professional fees of attending physician
Professional fees of licensed health workers providing
home health care services
Summary of Senior Citizen Privileges:
TRANSPORTATION
Air and Sea
Land: LRT, MRT, PNR, buses, jeepneys, taxi and shuttle
services
Hotels, restaurants, theaters, cinemas, concert halls,
circuses, leisure and amusement
Recreation centers
Fees, charges and rental for sports facilities and equipment
Funeral services
Funeral and burial expenses include casket or urn,
embalming, cremation cost, and other services
Summary of Senior Citizen Privileges:
UTILITY DISCOUNT
Grant of a minimum of 5% discount relative to the
monthly use of water and electricity, provided that the
meter is registered under the name of the senior citizen
residing therein and does not exceed 100 kWh and 30
m.
Government Assistance:
Social Pension
Indigent senior citizens shall be entitled to a
monthly stipend amounting to P500 to augment
daily subsistence and other medical needs.
Mandatory Phil Health coverage
All senior citizens are covered by the national health
insurance program of Phil Health.
Government Assistance:
Social safety nets
The social safety assistance shall include, but not be
limited to, food, medicines, and financial assistance
for house repair to cushion effects of economic,
disaster and calamity shocks.
Death benefit assistance
Assistance of a minimum of P2,000 shall be given to
the nearest surviving relative who took care of
the deceased senior citizen.
 DISABLED PERSONS SECTOR
Disabled are those suffering from restriction or
different abilities, as a result of a mental, physical or
sensory impairment, to perform an activity in the
manner or within the range considered normal for a
human being.

Impairment is any loss, diminution or aberration of

psychological, physiological, or anatomical structure or
function.
 DISABLED PERSONS SECTOR
Disability is a physical or mental impairment that
substantially limits one or more
psychological, physiological or anatomical
function of an individual or activities of
such individual.
a record of such an impairment.
being regarded as having such an
impairment.
Introduction:
Disability is a global concern
15% of the worlds population, or some &*%
million people, have some form of disability.
One in six people living in poverty are affected by
moderate or severe disability (World Report on
Disability, WHO, and the World Bank, 2011)
Disability is a human rights issue
1. Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948)
2. Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of
Discrimination Against Women (1979)
Introduction:
3. Convention on the Rights of the Child (2003)
4. UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with
Disabilities (2006)
5. Other human rights instruments which affirm the
protection of the rights of all without
discrimination.
Disability is a societal responsibility
Within every society, disability is recognized by all
citizens regardless of the differences of the
individuals socio-economic status, age, gender
and educational levels.
United Nations Convention on the Rights of
Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) 2006:
Sets out the legal obligation on States Parties to
promote, protect and ensure the full and equal
enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental
freedom by all persons with disabilities, and to protect
for their inherent dignity.
Defines persons with disabilities as those who have
long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory
impairments in which interaction with various barriers
may hinder their full and effective participation in
society on an equal basis with other.
Explicit Rights of PWDs in the UNCRPD:
Equality before the law without discrimination.
Right to life, liberty and security of the person
Equal recognition before the law and legal capacity
Freedom from torture
Freedom from exploitation, violence and abuse
Right to respect physical and mental integrity
Freedom of movement and nationality
Right to live in the community
Freedom of expression and opinion
Explicit Rights of PWDs in the UNCRPD:
Respect for privacy
Respect for home and the family
Right to education
Right to health
Right to work
Right to an adequate standard of living
Right to participate in political and public life
Right to participate in cultural life
Convention On The Elimination Of
Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) 1979
Guarantees the protection of the rights of all women,
whether disabled or not, including women and girls with
disabilities
Requires government to provide reports taken to
ensure that women with disabilities (WWDs) have equal
access to education and employment. Health services
and social security
Ensures that WWDs can participate in all areas of
social and cultural life
Salamanca Statement And Framework For
Action On Special Needs Education, 1994:
Requires government to promote the approach of
inclusive education enabling schools to serve all
children, particularly those with special needs
educational needs
Proclaims that every child has a fundamental right to
education, and must be given the opportunity to
achieve and maintain an acceptable level of learning
Requires governments to implement the World
Programme of Education for All (EFA) policy within the
public and private learning institutions at all levels
among persons with special needs.
RA 7277. An Act Providing For The Rehabilitation,
Self-development And Self-reliance Of Disabled
Person And Their Integration Into The Mainstream
Of Society And For Other Purposes:
Provides equal rights & privileges of persons with disabilities
on the following:
Employment
Education
Health
Auxiliary social services
Telecommunications
Accessibility
Political and civil rights
RA 7277
Prohibition On Discrimination Against Disabled Persons:
SECTION 32.
Discrimination on Employment No entity, whether
public or private, shall discriminate against a qualified
disabled person by reason of disability in regard to job
application procedures, the hiring, promotion, or
discharge of employees, employee compensation, job
training, and other terms, conditions, and privileges of
employment.
RA 7277
Prohibition On Discrimination Against Disabled Persons:
Discrimination on Transportation
SECTION 34. Public Transportation It shall be
considered discrimination for the franchises or operators
and personnel of sea, land, and air transportation
facilities to charge higher fare or to refuse to convey a
passenger, his orthopedic devices, personal effects, and
merchandise by reason of his disability.
RA 7277
Prohibition On Discrimination Against Disabled Persons:
SECTION 36. Discrimination on the Use of Public
Accommodations
No disabled persons shall be discriminated on the basis
of disability in the full and equal enjoyment of the goods,
services, facilities, privileges, advantages or
accommodations of any place of public accommodation
by any person who owns, leases, or operates a place of
public accommodation.
RA 9442. Provides Privileges to Persons
with Disabilities (2007):
Amended RA 7277
Grants 20% discount privileges to PWDs on the
following:
Utilization of services in hotels and similar lodging
establishments, and restaurants and recreation
centers
Discounted fares for domestic land, air and sea
travels
Admission fees charged by theatres, cinema houses,
concert halls, circuses, carnivals and other similar
places of culture, leisure and amusement
RA 9442.
Medical and dental services
Purchase of medicines in all drugstores
Educational assistance
Purchase of basic commodities
Provision of express lanes for PWDs; in the absence
hereof, priority shall be given to them
Prohibitions:
Deliverance from public ridicule
Deliverance from vilification
NCDA Administrative Order No. 001, S.
2008:
Identification Cards shall be issued to any bona fide
PWDs with permanent disabilities.
Batas Pambansa Bilang 344:
An Act To Enhance The Mobility Of Disabled Persons By
Requiring Certain Buildings, Institutions, Establishments
And Public Utilities To Install Facilities And Other Devices.

Requires certain buildings, educational institutions,

airports, sports and recreation places, work places, etc.
to install and incorporate architectural facilities or
structural features to enhance the mobility of PWDs
RA 7160. An Act Providing For A Local
Government Code Of The Philippines:
Sec. 483 (3) (iv) stipulates that the social welfare and
development officer shall tae charge of the office on
social welfare and development services and shall:
Facilitate the implementation of welfare programs for
the disabled (persons with disabilities), elderly, and
victims of drug addiction, and such other activities
which would eliminate or minimize the ill-effects of
poverty
Proclamation No. 688, series of 2003:
Declaring the Period of 2013-2022 as the Philippine
Decade of Make the Right Real for Persons with
Disabilities in Support of the 3rd Asian and Pacific
Decade of Persons with Disabilities
Requires all departments, agencies, and
instrumentalities of the national government and local
government units t implement government plans,
programs, and activities geared towards the
development of persons with disabilities in accordance
with the Incheon Strategy.
PRISONERS/DETAINEES SECTOR
 PRISONERS/DETAINEES SECTOR
A prisoner is anyone who is deprived of personal liberty
against his or her will, following conviction of a crime.
Although not afforded all the privileges of a free citizen,
a prisoner is assured certain minimal rights by the
Philippine Constitution and the moral standards of the
community.
 PRISONERS/DETAINEES SECTOR
Detainees are individuals who are kept in jail even though
they have not yet been convicted of a crime. A majority of
detainees are individuals who are unable to obtain
sufficient funds to post bail and therefore cannot be
released from jail pending a trial on the criminal charges.
A detainee is, well, detained for purposes of avoiding flight
during the period of litigation, especially if the charge is one
that is not bailable (or if judicial estimation of evidence
against the accused is strong).
Their guilt has as yet to be determined during trial. They
are still, technically speaking, innocent.The constitutional
presumption of innocence is still there.
History of Prisoner Rights in International
Law:
World War I and II
widespread denial of civil rights and liberties
racial, religious, and political discrimination
violence, murder and genocide, slave labor, abuse and
murder of prisoners of war, deportations, and
confiscation of property forced changes to the status
quo
International Instruments on Prisoner
Treatment:
Geneva Conventions
The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
The UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of
Prisoners
The European Convention for the Prevention of Torture
and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
The Convention on the Rights of Persons with
Disabilities.
Third Geneva Convention:
Prisoners of war are defined as:

(1) Members of the armed forces of a Party to the conflict as well as members of
militias or volunteer corps forming part of such armed forces.
(2) Members of other militias and members of other volunteer corps, including
those of organized resistance movements, belonging to a party to the conflict and
operating in or outside their own territory, even if this territory is occupied,
provided that they fulfill the following conditions:
(a) that of being commanded by a person responsible for his subordinates;
(b) that of having a fixed distinctive sign recognizable at a distance;
(c) that of carrying arms openly;
(d) that of conducting their operations in accordance with the laws and customs of
war.
(3) Members of regular armed forces who profess allegiance to a government or an
authority not recognized by the Detaining Power.
Prisoners' Rights:
Freedom from Cruel and Unusual Punishments
Freedom from Sexual Harassment or Sex Crimes
Right to Complain About Prison Conditions and Access
to the Courts
Reasonable Treatment for Disabled Prisoners
Entitled to Medical and Mental Health Care
Entitled to First Amendment Rights
Freedom from Discrimination
Breaches Of Prisoners' Rights In
International Law:
1. Guantanamo Bay, Cuba The American government
claimed that the detention facility in Guantanamo was not
covered by the Geneva Conventions protecting prisoners
of war, as the detainees were enemy combatants. It is
now clear that the CIA allowed water boarding in the
facility.
2. Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan US soldiers are accused
of abusing prisoners in a secret prison there. The
prisoners held there were exposed to extreme
temperatures, not given adequate food, bedding, or
natural light and religious duties were interfered with.
Breaches Of Prisoners' Rights In
International Law:
3. Shebarghan Prison, Northern Afghanistan The prison is
claimed to be overcrowded with inadequate bathing and
ablution facilities, as well as lack of food and medical care.
4. Abu Ghraib Prison, Iraq (2003) US soldiers serving there
were accused of beating prisoners, forcing prisoners to strip,
forcing prisoners to masturbate, threatening prisoners with
dogs, smearing prisoners with feces, making prisoners
simulate sex and form naked piles. There was also
accusations that prisoners were raped, sodomised and
beaten to death.
History of Prisons/Jails in the Philippines:
Bureau of Prisons created under Reorganization Act
1905 under Department of Commerce and Police.
Eventually placed under the supervision of the
Department of Justice.
Bureau of Prisons was renamed to Bureau of
Corrections thru Proclamation No. 495 and
Administrative Code of 1987.
History of Prisons/Jails in the Philippines:
The oldest penal facility , founded in 1832, is situated in
Zamboanga City, the San Ramon Prison and Penal Farm
Davao Penal Colony was established on January 21, 1932
with the issuance of a Presidential Proclamation 414
Iwahig Penal Colony is the biggest penal facility in the
country at 40,000 hectares comprising mostly of undulating
vegetation and pure jungle
Correctional Institution for Women was founded on
November 27, 1929 by virtue of Act No. 3579 as the first
and only prison for women in the Philippines
History of Prisons/Jails in the Philippines:
Correctional Institution for Women in Mindanao was
established on September 18, 2007, by virtue of a
Department of Justice Order within the sprawling prison
reservation of Davao Penal Colony in Eastern Mindanao
Leyte Regional Prison is a Martial Law baby, established on
January 167, 1973 by virtue of Presidential Proclamation
No. 1101 and its operation through the issuance of a
Presidential Decree 29
Sablayan Prison and Penal Farm, located in Sablay,
Occidental Mindoro was established on September 26, 1954
by virtue of Presidential Proclamation No. 72. Sometime in
the early 90s, a portion of said penal farm has been
distributed to the victims
Condition of Philippine Prisons and Jails:
1. Extreme overcrowding
(2001) 35,000 inmates in jails supervised by the
Bureau of Jail and Management Penology (BJMP),
(2007) 69,500 inmates
Metro Manila jails alone account for 22,000
inmates
Projected total jail population in BJMP-supervised
jails could reach 89,000 in 2008, 101,250 in 2009
and 114,930 in 2010
Condition of Philippine Prisons and Jails:
2. Dirty tap water
3. Dingy toilets
4. Substandard Meals
5. Gang wars
6. Poorly trained guards and prison administrators
7. Favoritism
Life inside the Philippines' most
overcrowded jail:
The Quezon City Jail was built in 1953, originally to house
800 people, according to the Bureau of Jail Management
and Penology standards. The United Nations says it should
house no more than 278. Currently, it has more than 4, 000
inmates.
There are only 20 guards assigned to the mass of
incarcerated men.
Inmates are woken at 5 a.m. before undergoing a head
count.
The inmates spend the days sitting, squatting and standing
in the unrelenting, suffocating Manila heat.
Secret Jails: Inhuman and Degrading
Prison Conditions
Detainees crouch on the floor inside a secret jail after
being discovered by the Commission on Human Rights at
Police Station 1 at Tondo district in Manila, Philippines on
April 27, 2017.