That Controversial RA 9994

During the press conference at the signing of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of RA 9994, Congressman Zialcita revealed that his inspiration for filing all these laws benefiting senior citizens was his own lola, who raised him and cared for him when he was younger.

For me, my friends would say it is quite understandable to be working for another marginalized sector like the elderly since I seem to have a penchant for supporting "underdogs" ever since. My passion for the law was fueled, and sustained, by my volunteer work with women, children, and sexual minorities. When I moved to the DSWD's Policy Development and Planning Bureau, it was no surprise I easily adapted to working on elderly concerns and issues of People with Disabilities (PWDs).

But like Rep. Zialcita, I too have a more personal reason for advocating senior citizens rights. My own mother is a senior citizen; still gracious at 70-something years. She takes advantage of her senior citizen's discount privilege regularly and reports to me "violators" of the law. I had a better appreciation of the gaps and problems in the implementation through her own experiences with various businesses. She was my inspiration for drafting a better and more comprehensive IRR that would clarify everything for senior citizens and private establishments alike.

When I first started as a focal person for senior citizens in 2007, I was getting it from all sides - angry lolos and lolas and complaining corporations who were tired of all the vagueness and ambiguity of the law. Meanwhile, most government agencies tasked with the senior citizens law's implementation were at a lost too and clueless about their respective responsibilities. It took a lot of special meetings and dialogues, several NCBM resolutions, and an amendment to the law itself to settle things once and for all.

But with the new law came "new" provisions as well - expanded benefits and additional privileges for our Filipino elderly. It also required a unique talent for balancing the interest of all concerned. By carefully bringing together the private sector, government agencies and senior citizens themselves, they began to understand each other better and even agreed for compromises to happen.

Behind it all, I never lost perspective on what is meant to be achieved by this law and its rules. I think about my mom and her concerns, and everything is contextualized for me again. I always say government work is a thankless job, but I hope we made some senior citizens happy somehow...especially my own mother.