Pinoy new year optimism hits 15-year low

Most Filipinos remain hopeful for the coming year, but pollster Social Weather Stations (SWS) noted that expectations ahead of 2025 are the lowest in 15 years.

The survey, conducted from Dec. 12 to 18, found that 90 percent of Filipinos are entering the new year with hope rather than fear.

While the number remains high, it was six points below the 96 percent obtained in a similar survey in 2023.

SWS said it was the lowest since the end of 2009, when 89 percent said they were entering the new year with hope.

In 2020, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, 91 percent of the survey respondents said they were entering the new year with hope.

Meanwhile, 10 percent said they are entering 2025 with fear, up by seven points from three percent in 2023. It was the highest since the 11 percent in 2009.

According to SWS, hope for the new year fell across all areas and educational attainment.

It was highest among those in balance Luzon at 92 percent (from 97 percent), followed by those in Metro Manila at 91 percent (from 97 percent), Mindanao at 89 percent (from 96 percent) and the Visayas at 87 percent (from 93 percent).

Hope for the new year was highest among college graduates at 96 percent, followed by those with some senior high school education at 93 percent (from 96 percent), junior high school graduates at 91 percent (from 96 percent), elementary graduates at 89 percent (from 97 percent) and non-elementary graduates at 83 percent (from 93 percent).

SWS said there was higher hope for the new year among those who expected a happy Christmas this year.

The survey had 2,160 adult respondents and a margin of error of plus/minus two percent.

Source: Philstar

San Carlos City Holds Joint LCPC and CIACAT-VAWC Meeting

The San Carlos City government held a joint meeting of the Local Council for the Protection of Children (LCPC) and City Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking and Violence Against Women and Their Children (CIACAT-VAWC) today, Feb. 26, at the City Administrator’s Office.

Sangguniang Panlungsod Member and Women & Family Committee Chair Victoriana C. Cabili presided over the meeting attended by representatives of the various concerned agencies.

For LCPC, the agenda includes the upcoming Barangay Council for the Protection of Children (BCPC) functionality re-orientation and child representative quarterly meeting, revision/update of the Children’s Code, review of the LDPC workshop for CY 2024-2026 output, and reconstitution of LCPC members.

CIACAT-VAWC and LCPC Secretariat Lavern Rigor said that City DRRM Officer Joe Recalex Alingasa Jr. would allocate P1M for the children's emergency plan in exchange for annual work and financial plan submission.

She also said the LCPC would also submit a proposed resolution for the integration and adaptation of the children's plan to the local DRRM. On the other hand, the CIACAT-VAWC agenda includes the Provincial Opening Celebration of Women’s Month on March 6, local Women’s Month celebration on March 21, Safe Space Act orientation at the barangay level, B-VAW desk functionality by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), and Gender Sensitivity Training for city officials, updates on the proposed additional monthly allowance to B-VAW desk officers, update report, and reconstitution of CIACAT-VAWC members.

Meanwhile, City Legal Officer Atty. Peter Parco shared that the proposed additional monthly allowance for B-VAW Desk Officers was already recommended based on the local government code.

San Carlos City Children and Women’s Affairs Inc. vice president Ma. Novah Sollesta and Philippine National Police (PNP)- San Carlos Women and Children Protection Desk Officer Ma. Angelie Operio also reported the total number of VAW victims.

SP Member Cabili also invited everyone to participate in Women's Month activities this March.

Source: LGU

How to avail of the privileges for the senior citizen in the Philippines?

Elderly Filipino Week is commemorated every October 1 to 7 by Proclamation No. 470, issued by then-President Fidel Ramos on September 26, 1994.

Senior citizens in the Philippines are entitled to various privileges and benefits under the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010.

Here are the steps on how to avail of these privileges:

1. Apply for a senior citizen ID card - Visit your local Office of Senior Citizen Affairs (OSCA) or Office of the Mayor to apply for a senior citizen ID card. Bring a valid ID and proof of age (birth certificate, passport, or any government-issued ID). The ID card is necessary to avail of senior citizen privileges.

2. Avail of discounts - Present your senior citizen ID card when purchasing goods and services to avail of discounts. Senior citizens are entitled to a 20% discount on the regular price of goods and services, such as medicines, food, transportation fare, and hotel accommodations. Some establishments may offer higher discounts.

3. Avail of income tax exemption - Senior citizens who are considered to be minimum wage earners and are not engaged in business or practice of profession are exempted from paying income tax.

4. Avail of social pension - Indigent senior citizens who are not receiving any pension or financial assistance from the government can apply for a social pension. Visit the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) office or your local government unit (LGU) to apply.

5. Avail of healthcare benefits - Senior citizens are entitled to PhilHealth benefits, which include free medical and dental services, as well as a discount on hospital bills. Senior citizens can also avail of free flu and pneumonia vaccinations in government health centers.

Remember that these privileges are only applicable to Filipino citizens aged 60 and above.

Section 4 of the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010, specifically item (3), provides that "other documents that establish that the senior citizen is a citizen of the Republic and is at least sixty (60) years of age as further provided in the implementing rules and regulations" may also be recognized as valid proof of age and citizenship for senior citizens who do not have a Senior Citizen ID card.

This means that if a senior citizen does not have a Senior Citizen ID card, they may still be able to avail of senior citizen privileges and benefits by presenting other valid government-issued IDs or documents, such as a passport, driver's license, birth certificate, or any other document that can prove their age and citizenship.

However, the specific types of IDs or documents that will be recognized and accepted may vary depending on the implementing rules and regulations set by the local government units and other concerned agencies.

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Source: Ziggurat Real Estate