Address fake news on benefits for senior citizens

With the enactment of Republic Act No. 11350 creating the National Commission of Senior Citizens, the preponderance of fake news regarding the additional benefits for senior citizens has evolved, allegedly premised on the must registration of senior citizens with the NCSC.

Definitely, for the NCSC to realistically craft its plans, programs, and budget, there is an urgent need for them to generate an updated database/population of senior citizens at the national level to reach at least the 2020 senior citizens population of 9.22 million per survey data of the Philippine Statistics Authority.

In its quest for the NCSC to update its database of senior citizens, numerous online fake news regarding additional senior citizens’ benefits and their implementation are circulating in social media (Meta, YouTube, vlogs, etc.) that further generate confusion and false expectations amongst the senior citizens such as the immediate granting of the additional P500 (for a total of P1,000) as stipend for seniors; the anticipated actualization of universal social pension (for said amount) to be given to all seniors (not just for indigents); additional P10,000 as Christmas gifts for seniors, etc.

To forestall the alleged negative impacts of such fake news among senior citizens, I would like to propose for NCSC Commissioner Franklin M. Quijano to optimize his “clarificatory” campaign in this regard by collaborating with the Office of Senior Citizens Affairs in local government units as well as barangay senior citizens associations.

Quijano should also make representations with the Department of Information and Communications Technology to address fake news involving senior citizens.

Collaboration is needed to attain goals and most importantly to ferret out fake news.

Emiliano M. Manahan Jr.,[email protected]