The overall goal of the project is to enhance and sharpen the leadership and communication skills of individual rightsholders,
Senior Citizens and Youth, and strengthen their organisations to be an active initiator of activities and creative ways to advocate and
claim for their rights, facilitate linkages to access resources, and manage their own programs to improve their quality of life.

Expanding Collective and Organised Action of Senior Citizens to Effectively Access Social Programmes

Nanay Tery Tarlac, 62 years old, President of Task Force Mapalad stated in the social media live show Singgit Sang Paglaum (Voice of Hope link) that she thought that reaching the age of 60 would mean that she would no longer have hope. Because she is no longer in her prime, her life as a Senior Citizen will be in decline. This is the common sentiment of elderly farmers in Negros Occidental who have worked in the farm all their life, reaching the age of sixty already with health issues and without assurance of a social pension.     

The first part of the journey, was finding a collective strategy and action that would work in order to claim their rights. The story of Silay and Manapla served as an example of the success of the collective action and receptiveness of the Local Government to listen to the advocacy of the rightsholder and make the necessary changes in its social programs for benefit of the Senior Citizens. 

The second part of the journey was a greater call for organizing and expansion of the advocacy to other Municipalities in order to reach out to more rightsholders, both elderly and youth. This time youth engagements were enhanced. Bea Francisco from Talisay initiated engagement with TESDA, Carol Suspene from Bago City became active in social media interviews and documentation, and Elmer Tarlac from Manapla looked for opportunities in the LGU to access financial assistance for the qualified youth in farming communities. 

TFM proactively engaged the National Commission on Senior Citizens (NCSC) and Philhealth, since one of the main concerns of the elderly farmers were access to medical assistance and services. The dialogue with the NCSC Chairmen Quijano and Commissioner Espejo last February 19, 2024, led to the knowledge of what services from Philhealth the Senior Citizens can access and they emphasized the importance of registering to the Philhealth system to be able to access the services like the annual general check-up equivalent to 5,000 pesos worth of services. Learning sessions with Philhealth and registration started this April 2024 in Manapla, Victorias, Cadiz, and Sagay.  By knowing about the health programs from agency itself and understanding how to access health services gave them a sense of security; that in case they need to access they know where to go and make the necessary decisions on health issues.  

The major take aways for the success of the engagements and activities are the same as the first: (1) translating the Senior Citizens’ knowledge into a participatory and collective strategy for claiming their rights, and (2) organizing an action and lobbying the target local government or agency. The project period may be nearing its closure, however the journey is still on-going because the desired outcomes could be seen or felt months from now or even next year. The journey of the rightsholders, Senior Citizens and Youth, will continue on beyond the project period because the empowerment project has already planted its seed and shown that results can be achieved.