Old Age Poverty and Active Ageing in ASEAN: Trends and Opportunities

[The World Senior Citizen's Day is celebrated on 21 August each year. The celebration took place for the first time in 1991.]

Poverty in Old Age

The current method of tracking old-age poverty involves disaggregating the current poverty measure according to age. However, poverty in later life is not the same as it is in youth and early adulthood. Older people are less likely to emerge from long-term poverty because of receding capability, deteriorating health, and limited access to financial resources. Thus, research on poverty must analyze old-age poverty within a context-specific framework.

Incidence of Old-Age Poverty in ASEAN

• In general, older persons in the ASEAN Member States have been living marginally above the poverty line and remain vulnerable to falling into poverty.

• In countries with younger populations like the Philippines, the Lao PDR, and Cambodia, older people are less likely to become impoverished than the general population. In countries with a more mature population like Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand, the poverty headcount rate of older people is higher than that of the general population or even non-older people.

Poverty Profile of Older Persons in the ASEAN Member States

GENERAL

• In most ASEAN Member States, older women have a higher poverty rate than older men, and they also face more severe conditions. Women’s domestic responsibilities prevent them from having paid full-time jobs. Those who work are still expected to fulfill caregiving duties at home. Many engage in low-wage, unstable, and informal jobs. These leave women with limited social protection and financially dependent on their spouses. Hence, they become more vulnerable to poverty in their later years.
  

• More older people live in rural areas. They also typically reside with their family, particularly their adult children, showing that filial obligation is still observed. However, they usually live with family members who are also impoverished.

• Poverty is the primary factor driving older people in ASEAN to remain in the labor force. Many of them work in agriculture. Older women are typically employed in informal and unstable jobs.

Source: The Asean Magazine

Senior citizen discount on utilities

Did you know that as a senior citizen in the Philippines you are entitled to a discount for your utility bills?

Article 12, Section 1 of the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 9994, otherwise known as the "Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010," which states that:

"Section 1. Five (5%) Discount - The grant of a minimum of five percent (5%) discount relative to the monthly utilization of water and electricity by households with senior citizens; Provided, That the individual meters for the foregoing utilities are registered in the name of the senior citizen residing therein: provided, further, that the monthly consumption does not exceed one hundred kilowatt hours (100 kWh) of electricity and thirty cubic meters (30m') of water: Provided, furthermore, that the privilege is granted per household regardless of the number of senior citizens residing therein.

"To avail of the discount under this Section, the senior citizen shall:

"1. Apply for the discount personally or thru a representative. There shall be annual renewal of application to the utility provider.

"2. Submit requirements:

"a. Proof of age and citizenship

"b. Proof of billing. Meter registration should be in the name of the senior citizen for a period of one year

"c. Proof of residence."

Accordingly, senior citizens living in a household with their utility bills (water and electricity) under their names get a guaranteed minimum 5% discount in their bills, if their monthly electricity usage is less than 100 kWh, and their monthly water usage is less than 30 cubic meters. This discount is for the whole household, regardless of how many senior citizens live there.

Further, the said discount is not automatically given to senior citizens, as they are required to submit an application and meet the above-mentioned requirements to avail of the said discount.

Who is a senior citizen?

Article 5.1 of the (IRR) of RA 9994 states:

"5.1 SENIOR CITIZEN OR ELDERLY – refers to any Filipino citizen who is a resident of the Philippines, and who is sixty (60) years old or above. It may apply to senior citizens with 'dual citizenship' status provided they prove their Filipino citizenship and have at least six (6) months residency in the Philippines."

In other words, you may avail of the senior citizen discounts as long as you are able to prove your Filipino citizenship and the fact that you have been residing in the Philippines for at least six months.

IRR - RA 9994

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Source: Manila Times