R A M S RE L EV A NT T O

ADVO C A C Y PR OG
E R P ER S O N S IN T HE
THE C A RE O F OL D
PHILIPPINES
:CARE F OR T HE E L D ERLY
COOC
COALITION OF SERVICES OF THE ELDERLY
(COSE)
 OLDER PEOPLE ORGANIZATION
FORMATION
• SINCE 1989, THE COALITION OF SERVICES OF THE ELDERLY (COSE) HAS BEEN IN THE
FOREFRONT OF WORKING WITH OLDER PERSONS IN THE CONTEXT OF RIGHTS-BASED
AND INCLUSIVE DEVELOPMENT PERSPECTIVES.

• COSE WORKS WITH 402 ORGANIZED GROUPS OF OLDER PERSONS IN 17 PROVINCES. 

• COSE ENVISIONS THAT THIS WILL LEAD TO A NATIONAL MOVEMENT OF OLDER PERSONS.
•    THE CHALLENGES POSED BY INCREASING POVERTY, SOCIAL EXCLUSION, CULTURAL
PASSIVITY, AGEISM AND INADEQUATE SOCIAL SERVICES, THE EXPERIENCES OF COSE
SHOW THAT OLDER PERSONS CAN WORK TOGETHER AND HARNESS THEIR COLLECTIVE
POTENTIALS. PROGRAMS MUST BE TRANSFORMED BEYOND MERE WELFARE
PROVISIONS 
• OLDER PERSON ORGANIZATIONS (OPOS) CAN INITIATE, MANAGE AND SUSTAIN DEVELOPMENT
EFFORTS THAT ARE MORE RESPONSIVE TO THEIR SPECIFIC NEEDS AND ASPIRATIONS AS OLDER
PERSONS. SUCH EFFORTS CONTRIBUTE TO THE EMPOWERING PROCESS AMONG OLDER PERSONS.

• THE ORGANIZING PROCESS IS SUMMED UP INTO FIVE (5) PHASES:

1. SOCIAL PREPARATION,
2. LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
3. ORGANIZATION BUILDING
4. CONSOLIDATION, AND EXPANSION.
FOUR (4) CONTINUING ACTIVITIES ARE IDENTIFIED:
5. CAPACITY BUILDING
6. PROJECT DEVELOPMENT
7. ISSUE AND POLICY ADVOCACY,
8. PARTNERSHIP BUILDING. 
• THESE ACTIVITIES MOVE FROM SIMPLE TO COMPLEX CONCERNS, EACH
BUILDING ON THE GAINS OF THE PREVIOUS ENGAGEMENT. IN ACTUAL
COMMUNITY SETTINGS, THESE ACTIONS ARE CLOSELY INTERWOVEN AND ARE
INTER-DEPENDENT.

• THE MIX OF PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES AT THE COMMUNITY LEVEL IS DEFINED

BY AREA SITUATION/NEEDS AND CAPACITIES OF LOCAL GROUPS, LEADERS AND
ORGANIZERS.

• MUSTERING STRENGTH AND CONFIDENCE FROM THE EXPERIENCE WITH

ORGANIZING CONFEDERATION OF OLDER PERSONS ASSOCIATION OF THE
PHILIPPINES (COPAP), COSE CONTINUE TO WORK TOWARDS NATIONAL
MOVEMENT OF OLDER PERSONS.
ADVOCACY CONSORTIUM FOR THE
ELDERLY (ACE) 

• PASALI IS FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE ADVOCACY CONSORTIUM FOR THE ELDERLY (ACE), 
ALONG WITH FAMILY PLANNING ORGANIZATION OF THE PHILIPPINES (FPOP)
AND MINDANAWAN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION, INC. (MCDOI). 

ACE IS A COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAM WORKING FOR THE ELDERLY RIGHTS AND

DEVELOPMENT WITH SPECIAL ATTENTION TO MORO AND INDIGENOUS PEOPLE’S. AS
PARTNER OF THE CONSORTIUM, ITS PROGRAMS AND SERVICES ARE FOCUSED IN  THE
THREE TARGET BARANGAYS OF GENERAL SANTOS CITY: FATIMA, SAN JOSE, AND TAMBLER. 
OBJECTIVES OF PASALI
•
THE PROPOSED PROJECT GENERALLY AIMS AT IMPROVING THE WELFARE OF THE
OLDER PEOPLE/ SENIOR CITIZENS THROUGH ADVOCACY FOR THE FOLLOWING
MECHANISMS:EXISTING LAWS AND POLICIES FAVORABLE TO THE OLDER PEOPLE/
SENIOR CITIZENS SHALL BE IMPLEMENTED FULLY;

• THE OLDER PEOPLE/ SENIOR CITIZENS’ SECTOR SHALL BE REPRESENTED IN THE

LOCAL SPECIAL BODIES/ OR COMMITTEES;

• BUDGET TO SUPPORT PROGRAMS FOR THE OLDER PEOPLE/ SENIOR CITIZENS SHALL
BE INCLUDED IN THE ANNUAL BUDGET/ ANNUAL INVESTMENT PLAN (AIP) OF THE LGU.
 HELPAGE INTERNATIONAL
• HELPAGE INTERNATIONAL IS A GLOBAL ELPAGE INTERNATIONAL NETWORK OF NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANISATIONS WITH A
MISSION TO WORK WITH AND FOR DISADVANTAGED OLDER PEOPLE WORLDWIDE TO ACHIEVE A LASTIADVOCACY: WHAT
IS IT AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?

• NG IMPROVEMENT IN THE QUALITY OF THEIR LIVES

• RAISING AWARENESS OF DECISION MAKERS, DONORS, THE PUBLIC, OLDER PEOPLE THEMSELVES, NONGOVERNMENTAL
ORGANISATIONS (NGOS), AND OTHER RELEVANT GROUPS, ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO ASK OLDER PEOPLE WILL HELP
ENSURE SUSTAINABLE IMPACTS OF LOCAL LEVEL WORK.

• FURTHERMORE, INCREASED AWARENESS WILL EMPOWER OLDER PEOPLE TO TAKE ON THEIR OWN ISSUES IN A MORE
RECEPTIVE, SUPPORTIVE AND INFORMED ENVIRONMENT.

• ADVOCACY WITH OLDER PEOPLE RAISES CONSCIOUSNESS AND HELPS TO ORGANISE OLDER PEOPLE AND LOCAL
COMMUNITIES. NGOS PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN INCREASING OLDER PEOPLE’S LEVEL OF AWARENESS OF THE
RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO THEM, COMMUNITY SUPPORT, AND THE OPPORTUNITIES THEY HAVE TO HELP THEMSELVES
SOME EXAMPLES OF GOALS OF ADVOCACY WITH OLDER
PEOPLE
• : RAISE THE PRIORITY OF AGEING ISSUES FOR GOVERNMENT, NGO AND INTERNATIONAL BODIES.
• ENSURE INCLUSION OF OLDER PEOPLE IN THE MAINSTREAM ACTIVITIES OF COMMUNITIES, GOVERNMENT AND NON-
GOVERNMENT ORGANISATIONS.

• DEVELOP STRONG AND EFFECTIVE OLDER PEOPLES’ ORGANISATIONS WHICH FACILITATE THEIR EMPOWERMENT AND THE
DEVELOPMENT OF A POWERFUL, CO-ORDINATED VOICE FOR OLDER PEOPLE’S ISSUES. DEVELOP AND DISSEMINATE INFORMATION
AND IMAGES OF OLDER PEOPLE THAT RAISE AWARENESS OF THEIR CAPACITIES AND CONTRIBUTIONS, AS A MEANS OF
CHALLENGING STEREOTYPES OF OLDER PEOPLE AS DISABLED, UNPRODUCTIVE AND DEPENDANT. INCREASE AWARENESS AND
UNDERSTANDING OF AGEING ISSUES AND THE AGEING PROCESS ACROSS THE COMMUNITY, AND IN PARTICULAR WITH SERVICE
PROVIDERS, AS A MEANS OF REDUCING MISUNDERSTANDING AND MISCONCEIVED IDEAS ABOUT THE NATURE OF SUPPORT
REQUIRED BY OLDER PEOPLE
COALITION OF SERVICES OF THE ELDERLY{COSE}
• VISION
• COSE ENVISIONS AN AGE-FRIENDLY SOCIETY WHERE ALL OLDER PERSONS LIVE IN DIGNITY; REMAIN HEALTHY,
SELF-RELIANT, AND SECURE; AND FREE TO COMMIT THEMSELVES TO OTHERS AND SOCIETY.

• MISSION
• TO WORK WITH OLDER PERSONS, ESPECIALLY THE POOR AND MARGINALIZED, IN UPHOLDING THEIR RIGHTS
WHILE RESPECTING CULTURAL DIVERSITY, PROMOTING GENDER EQUALITY, NURTURING THEIR POTENTIALS,
RECOGNIZING THEM AS A SIGNIFICANT SECTOR, AND ENSURING THEIR PARTICIPATION IN MATTERS AFFECTING
THEIR LIVES.

• GOALS
1. TO STRENGTHEN OLDER PERSONS’ ORGANIZATIONS (OPOS) THROUGH CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT.
2. TO ADVANCE THE WELL-BEING OF OLDER PERSONS THROUGH NETWORKING AND PARTNERSHIP BUILDING WITH
VARIOUS STAKEHOLDERS AT THE LOCAL, NATIONAL, REGIONAL, AND INTERNATIONAL LEVELS.
3. TO FOSTER A NATIONAL MOVEMENT OF OLDER PERSONS THAT WILL TAKE THE LEAD IN PROMOTING
INTERGENERATIONAL SOLIDARITY AND GENDER EQUALITY.
SHARED VALUES
• ACCOUNTABILITY
• COMMITMENT
• GENDER TRANSFORMATIVE
• INCLUSIVENESS
• OLDER PERSONS-CENTERED
• PARTICIPATORY
 ADVOCACY
• A. PROTECTION AND INCLUSION
• OLDER PEOPLE IS ONE OF THE MOST AT-RISK AND VULNERABLE SECTORS YET THEY ARE OFTEN EXCLUDED
AND REMAIN INVISIBLE IN MANY CIRCUMSTANCES LIKE POLICY-MAKING, EMERGENCIES, AND RIGHTS AND
ENTITLEMENTS.

• OUR ORGANIZATION, TOGETHER WITH PARTNERS, TAKES DIFFERENT APPROACHES IN ENSURING PROTECTION
AND INCLUSION OF OLDER PERSONS IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS:

• B. ECONOMIC INCLUSION
• THE LACK OF A UNIVERSAL PENSION SCHEME OR INCLUSION OF OLDER PEOPLE IN CURRENT LIVELIHOOD
PROGRAMS AND EMPLOYMENT UNDERMINES THEIR ABILITY TO MEET THEIR NEEDS OR CONTRIBUTE TO
FAMILY INCOME. IN THE BUFFER ZONE, OLDER PEOPLE’S ACCESS TO LIVELIHOODS AND INCOME
OPPORTUNITIES IS RESTRICTED DUE TO PHYSICAL DECLINE THAT COMES WITH AGEING. OLDER PEOPLE
LIVING ALONE, WIDOWS, OLDER HEADS OF HOUSEHOLDS, OR THOSE LIVING WITH OLDER PEOPLE SHOULD BE
PRIORITIZED FOR APPROPRIATE LIVELIHOODS ASSISTANCE DESIGNED TO SUPPORT FINANCIAL STABILITY.

• WE ADVOCATE THE INCLUSION AND PROMOTION OF OLDER PERSONS TO AGE-FRIENDLY LIVELIHOOD AND
EMPLOYMENT TO IMPROVE OLDER PEOPLE LIVING CONDITIONS AND PROVIDE BASIC INCOME GUARANTEE IN
OLDER AGE.
 ADVOCACY
• C. PUBLIC POLICY AND GOVERNANCE INCLUSION
• COSE WORKS IN ENSURING THE PARTICIPATION OF OLDER PEOPLE AND INCLUSION OF THEIR ISSUES
IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF PUBLIC POLICIES AND PROGRAMS. IN THE LOCAL LEVEL, WE WORK IN
ENCOURAGING LOCAL AUTHORITIES TO PROMOTE AND ACKNOWLEDGE THE RIGHTS OF OLDER
PEOPLE AND CONSIDER THEM WHEN PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTING DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS.

• WE ALSO STRENGTHEN OLDER PEOPLE ORGANIZATIONS (OPOS) IN THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE

THEY ARE IMPORTANT IN PUSHING FOR AN INCLUSIVE GOVERNANCE AND POLICY-MAKING. OPOS
CAN INITIATE, MANAGE AND SUSTAIN DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS THAT ARE MORE RESPONSIVE TO
THEIR SPECIFIC NEEDS AND ASPIRATIONS AS OLDER PERSONS. SUCH EFFORTS CONTRIBUTE TO THE
EMPOWERING PROCESS AMONG OLDER PERSONS.

• IN ADDITION, WE FACILITATE THE SETTING UP OF 

OLDER CITIZEN MONITORING BOARDS (OCMB) AND HELP DESK IN THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS.
 ADVOCACY
• D. EMERGENCY INCLUSION
• OLDER PEOPLE ARE ONE OF THE MOST VULNERABLE SECTORS OF SOCIETY WHEN NATURAL
DISASTERS STRIKE OR ARMED CONFLICT ERUPTS. YET, BECAUSE OF PHYSICAL DECLINE
THAT COMES WITH AGEING (E.G. POOR HEALTH, MOBILITY, SIGHT, HEARING AND THEIR
GENERAL ISOLATION FROM OTHERS), THEY OFTEN DO NOT RECEIVE THE HUMANITARIAN
AID AND SERVICES THEY NEED. OLDER PEOPLE MAY FACE GREAT DIFFICULTY IN REACHING
FOOD AND AID DISTRIBUTION POINTS, COMMUNICATING THEIR NEEDS TO OTHERS, AND
REGISTERING FOR SERVICES IN EVACUATION CAMPS. IN THE PAST, AND EVEN TODAY,
HUMANITARIAN ORGANIZATIONS HAVE FAILED TO TAKE OLDER PEOPLE INTO
CONSIDERATION WHEN PLANNING EMERGENCY RESPONSES.

• WE HAVE EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROGRAMS THAT HIGHLIGHTS THE INCLUSION OF OLDER

PEOPLE AND OTHER VULNERABLE SECTORS, AND ARE CLOSELY WORKING WITH OTHER
HUMANITARIAN GROUPS TO INCLUDE OLDER PEOPLE IN THEIR RESPONSES AND
PROGRAMME WITH THE AID OF AGING AND DISABILITY TASK FORCE (ADTF).
MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM FOR ELDERLY IN THE
PHILLIPINES
• SUPPLEMENTARY FEEDING PROGRAM.
• SOCIAL PENSION PROGRAM FOR INDIGENT SENIOR CITIZENS.
• RECOVERY AND REINTEGRATION PROGRAM OF TRAFFICKED PERSONS.
• MINORS TRAVELLING ABROAD.
• DOMESTIC ADOPTION.
• ALTERNATIVE FAMILY CARE PROGRAM.
• SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOOD PROGRAM.
• PANTAWID PAMILYANG PILIPINO PROGRAM.