Senate urged to prioritize measure on elderly nutrition programs
Senior Citizen Rep. Rodolfo Ordanes called on the Senate to urgently pass a measure that would complement the healthy meal guide for senior citizens and task barangay health workers to run elderly nutrition programs.
“As the country rolls out solutions to infant, child and maternal malnutrition, let us not forget the nutrition of seniors who sacrifice their health for their grandchildren,” he said.
Ordanes maintained the Pinggang Pinoy (Filipino plate) for the elderly daily meal planning guide wasn’t enough to promote senior citizens’ nutrition.
The National Nutrition Council designed Pinggang Pinoy for the elderly as a comprehensive meal plan for families and caregivers of Filipinos 60 years and up. It indicates go or energy-giving food; grow or body-building food; and glow or body-regulating food.
He said HB 8461 “lays the legal basis for integrated seniors’ nutrition” as it would amend Republic Act 7432, which grants benefits and special privileges to elderly Filipinos by mandating the setup of a comprehensive nutrition and wellness program for senior citizens. The bill was passed by the House of Representatives on its third and final reading in August 2023.
Free from politics
Ordanes stressed that elderly nutrition programs in barangays must be run by health centers and barangay health workers.
“This way, the nutrition program is freed from barangay politics,” he said.
He added that the health centers were run by the city or town and supported by the Department of Health.
“I am therefore hopeful the senators will reflect on HB 8461 during the current recess,” Ordanes said, expressing hope the DOH and the Department of Social Welfare and Development would recommend the draft measure’s certification as urgent.
