SENATE, Pasay City — Amidst the growing number of abandoned senior citizens in the country—with some ending up being abused or exploited—Senator Sherwin ‘Win’ Gatchalian is calling on the government, particularly the Commission of Senior Citizens (CSC), for the establishment of homes for the elderly that would be managed by local government units (LGUs).

During the Commission’s budget hearing at the Senate, Gatchalian requested CSC chairman Atty. Franklin Quijano to “please look into the possibility of LGU-managed homes for the aged because we have noticed the rising instances of abandoned elderlies.”

The administration lawmaker pointed out to Quijano that the increasing number of unattended, neglected and homeless seniors nationwide could not be ignored and action should be taken by the CSC to address the issue.

“It’s disheartening to see (abandoned senior citizens) on the streets,” Gatchalian noted as he cited the case in Valenzuela City where the situation has become alarming, prompting the LGU to put up its own shelter for elderly people named Bahay Kanlungan.

The senator has already filed Senate Bill No. 950, or Homes for Abandoned Seniors Act, which seeks the creation of nursing homes for elderlies and to be operated by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in coordination with LGUs concerned.

Under the proposed measure, LGUs would be tasked to build the proposed nursing homes for abandoned and homeless senior citizens.

“It is our duty to ensure that our elderlies have comfortable homes and are receiving proper care. And to ensure that they live with dignity even if they are away from their families, let’s push for the establishment of nursing homes for them in every city and municipality,” Gatchalian stressed.

“By establishing nursing homes for homeless and abandoned elderly people, they will be provided with comfortable living quarters, adequate food and clothing, medical consultation or treatment, health care and counseling, among others,” he clarified.

In ending, Gatchalian also called for support for Senate Bill No. 816 which criminalizes abuse against senior citizens amid a growing number of reports about some elderly who were abused, exploited and neglected.

“I urge the commission to champion and help push the bill. We need to help our elderly citizens who have been neglected by their families,” he concluded.