EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 266 - APPROVING AND ADOPTING THE PHILIPPINE PLAN OF ACTION FOR OLDER PERSONS, 1999-2004

WHEREAS, Article XIII, Section 11 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution states that “The State shall adopt an integrated and comprehensive approach to health development which shall endeavor to make essential goods, health and other social services available to all the people at affordable cost. There shall be priority for the needs of the underprivileged sick, elderly, disabled, women and children. The State shall endeavor to provide free medical care to paupers.” It is also stated in Article XV that “The family has the duty to take care of its elderly members but the State may also do so through just program of social security.”  

WHEREAS, every effort is being exerted by concerned departments, bureaus, offices, agencies or instrumentalities of the government including government owned or controlled corporations and local government units and non-government organizations to ensure that older person’s rights are upheld, their needs and concerns are addressed, their roles as active participants in nation building are fully recognized.

WHEREAS, by virtue of its membership in the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), the Philippines is committed to implement the actions agreed upon in the Macau Declaration and Plan of Action on Ageing for Asia and the Pacific.

WHEREAS, a Technical Working Group, spearheaded by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) formulated the 1999-2004 Philippine Plan of Action for Older Persons (PPAOP) which contains the country’s vision for the upliftment and development of older persons and which shall serve as the main instrument in implementing our international commitments.

WHEREAS, the Plan addresses the eight (8) areas of concerns related to population ageing in the Philippines, namely: a) Older Persons and the Family; b) Social Positions of Older Persons; c) Health and Nutrition; d) Housing Transportation and the Built Environment; e) Income Security, Maintenance and Employment; f) Social Services and the Community; g) Continuing Education/Learning Among the Older Persons; and h) Older Persons and the Market.

WHEREAS, the Philippine Plan of Action for the Older Persons was approved by the Joint Social Development Committee Cabinet Level and Cabinet Cluster C on the 15th of September 1999.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH EJERCITO ESTRADA, President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby approve and adopt the “Philippine Plan of Action for Older Persons, 1999-2004,” as the country’s blueprint to institute appropriate policies, strategies, programs and projects for older persons, and order the following: 

Section 1. Creation of an Inter-Agency Committee. — There is hereby created an Inter-Agency Committee chaired by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and co-chaired by the Department of Finance (DOF) to oversee, coordinate, monitor and evaluate the implementation of the Philippine Plan of Action for Older Persons. The Committee shall also review and regularly update the Plan and be responsible for the widest possible dissemination of information about the Plan. The Committee shall include as members the following agencies;  

a). National Economic and Development Authority

b). Department of Education, Culture and Sports

c). Department of Health

d). Department of Science and Technology

e). Department of Interior and Local Government

f). Department of Labor and Employment

g). Department of Trade and Industry

h). Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council

i). Government Service and Insurance System

j). Social Security System

k). National Anti-Poverty Commission

l). Philippine Information Agency

m). Coalition of Services of the Elderly

n). Federation of Senior Citizens Associations of the Philippines

o). Philippine Retirement Authority

p). Philippine Retirement Authority Members Association

Sec. 2. An appropriate focal point for older persons’ concerns or any other similar mechanisms shall be instituted in each concerned department, bureau, office, agency or instrumentality of the government, including government-owned or controlled corporations and local government units, to ensure the implementation and monitoring of the Plan, review and updating of programs and projects identified for each agency.

Sec. 3. The Committee is hereby authorized to call upon any department, bureau, office, agency or instrumentality of the National Government, including government-owned and controlled corporations and LGUs, to assist and ensure the full implementation of the programs and activities contained in the Plan. 

Sec. 4. All government agencies are hereby enjoined to allocate necessary funds from other sources for the remainder of CY 2000 to support the implementation of the Plan. Appropriation for succeeding years shall be incorporated in the budget proposals for congressional action.

Sec. 5. Effectivity. — This Executive Order shall take effect immediately. 

DONE in the City of Manila, this 17th day of July, in the Year of Our Lord, Two Thousand.

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Since 19.07.98.