Manila, 10–11 December 2025: ERIA visited Manila to hold discussions on the Silver Economy and social welfare policies with key Philippine institutions. These included the Department of Economy, Planning and Development (DEPDev); Department of Health (DOH); Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD); Commission on Population and Development (CPD); National Commission for Senior Citizens (NCSC); the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in the Philippines; the World Health Organization Western Pacific Regional Office (WHO-WPRO); the University of the Philippines Population Institute (UPPI); and the Demographic Research and Development Foundation, Inc. (DRDF).

ERIA, in collaboration with DRDF, has completed two rounds of the Longitudinal Study of Ageing and Health in the Philippines (LSAHP) and is preparing for the third survey round scheduled for 2026. With the Philippines set to assume the ASEAN Chairmanship in the same year, the meetings also provided a platform to exchange views on ASEAN-level initiatives and priorities, as well as preparations for the upcoming LSAHP, taking into account the country’s domestic ageing strategies.

During the discussions, ERIA presented an overview of the LSAHP and the Financial Sustainability of Integrated Care for Older Persons (FISCO) initiative, and sought feedback on potential areas for future collaboration. Philippine government representatives engaged in wide-ranging exchanges on long-term care, the informal sector, digitalisation, pensions, accessibility, the healthcare workforce, caregiver training, health and productivity, and age-friendly working environments.

Building on the outcomes of the dialogue, ERIA reaffirmed its commitment to exploring opportunities for co-operation with the Philippines on ageing-related policies and to contributing to broader ASEAN efforts to address the challenges of an ageing society.