Manila, 16 August 2024: The Longitudinal Study of Ageing and Health in the Philippines (LSAHP) Wave 2 Dissemination Forum was held in Metro Manila, bringing together key stakeholders to discuss advancements in care for older persons in the Philippines.

The event commenced with remarks from Edgardo Carlo L. Vistan II, Chancellor of the University of the Philippines Diliman, who emphasised LSAHP Wave 2 as a cornerstone for future care policies for older individuals. Additionally, ERIA’s Managing Director for Policy Design and Operations, Dr Aladdin D. Rillo, highlighted the impending demographic shift, projecting that the Philippines will become an ageing society by 2030.

The research team presented the LSAHP Wave 2 Report, analysing the demographic, socioeconomic, and health profiles of older Filipinos in an engaging manner. Key reactions underscored the necessity for improved policy implementation, community-based care systems, and the creation of age-friendly environments. Attention was drawn to geographical disparities in access to social infrastructure, particularly in rural areas. Recommendations included caregiver respite programmes, enhanced healthcare packages, and a multi-sectoral approach to addressing vaccine hesitancy and improving crisis responses for older persons.

The subsequent session featured an open forum, moderated by Director Elma Laguna of the UP Population Institute. A panel of reactors and LSAHP authors provided valuable insights from the Wave 2 data, including Prof. Yasuhiko Saito, Senior Research Fellow on Ageing and Health at ERIA and overall principal investigator; Dr Grace Cruz, principal investigator for the Philippines; Undersecretary Joseph Capuno, National Development Authority (NEDA) Philippines; Gabrielle Domingo, Health and Wellness Program Manager for Senior Citizens, Department of Health (DOH) Philippines; Dr Shelley de la Vega, Director of the Institute of Aging, National Institutes of Health, UP Manila; Emmanuel Daez, Executive Director of the National Commission of Senior Citizens; Germaine Leonin, United Senior Citizens Party-list; and Dr Alejandro Herrin, Visiting Research Fellow, University of San Carlos, Office of Population Studies Foundation.

Discussions emphasised the importance of preparing future cohorts, inter-agency policy collaboration, and the role of education in reducing dementia risks. The forum noted the shortage of social workers and gaps in geriatric education, as well as the economic impact on older persons. The establishment of Senior Citizen Centres was discussed to enhance socialisation and care for older individuals, as socialisation can prevent isolation and contribute to longer, healthier lives.

Additionally, pilot substudy results on the local validation of the WHO Verbal Autopsy instrument – aimed at improving mortality statistics to provide more robust data for preventive health policy recommendations – were shared by the VA Philippines team, led by Dr Antonio Villanueva, in collaboration with Prof. Saito, Dr Grace Cruz, and Dr Joy Cruz.

Dr Juan Antonio A. Perez III, Chairperson of the Demographic Research and Development Foundation concluded the event by emphasising the importance of ‘virtuous impatience’ and highlighting significant study findings: one in ten older persons live alone, a third have limited access to pharmacies, and 67% of healthcare costs for older persons are paid out-of-pocket. He called for increased community-level attention and acknowledged the contributions of various stakeholders, including LSAHP project investigators, ERIA, Prof. Saito, UP Diliman, and the UP Population Institute, as they move forward to Wave 3.