The Philippines is still years away from being officially classified as an aging society, but the government has started reviewing its readiness as the number of older Filipinos continues to rise.
The Commission on Population and Development (CPD) and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) are convening a national consultation to examine whether existing laws, services, and government programs are enough to support senior citizens in the coming years.
Speaking in a Bagong Pilipinas interview, CPD Undersecretary Lisa Grace Bersales said the review is meant to respond to changes in the country’s age structure and population movement as the share of Filipinos aged 65 and above grows.
“Kapag pumalo na ng 7% ang mga 65 and above, considered na aging ang population ng Pilipinas,” Bersales said.
Latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) show that the country’s population growth slowed to an average of 0.8 percent a year from 2020 to 2024, down from 1.6 percent between 2015 and 2020. In 2020, people aged 65 and above made up 5.4 percent of the total population.
Government projections indicate that this share could rise steadily and reach about 12 percent by 2050, a shift that could affect healthcare demand, social protection systems, and community support structures.
Bersales said the Philippines is aging more slowly than countries such as Japan and Thailand, but warned that delaying preparation could create long-term problems.
She said the consultation will bring together national agencies, local government units, and regional representatives to identify gaps in current policies for senior citizens and determine what additional support is needed.
“Ang importante ay pagkatapos nitong consultation ay talagang mailista natin, ng Commission on Population and Development, kasama ang UNESCAP at ang other agencies, tulad ng National Commission on Senior Citizens, ang Department of Economy, Planning and Development, Department of Health, [na] mailista natin kung ano pa iyong kulang na dapat na ibigay natin sa ating mga senior citizens,” Bersales said.
Among the issues expected to be tackled are the impact of government digitalization on older persons, including their ability to access online services and protect themselves from scams as transactions increasingly shift to paperless and contactless systems.
The consultation will also look at whether benefits under the Expanded Senior Citizens Act and universal PhilHealth coverage remain adequate as the country prepares for an older population.
