President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has ordered the transfer of the National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC) from the Office of the President to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). The move, mandated by Executive Order (EO) No. 96, aims to establish a stronger organizational link and enhance the delivery of policies and programs for senior citizens.
The Executive Order, issued on September 18, states that strong coordination between the NCSC and the DSWD is essential to improve bureaucratic efficiency, a key component of the Administration’s eight-point socioeconomic agenda. The transfer is intended to further strengthen policies and programs, promoting the overall well-being and protection of the elderly in the country.
The NCSC was created under Republic Act No. 11350, or the National Commission of Senior Citizens Act of 2019, to ensure the full implementation of laws and programs for the elderly. While the law previously directed that certain DSWD functions for senior citizens be transferred to the NCSC, the new directive places the commission under the DSWD for policy and program coordination.
Under EO No. 96, the implementation, distribution, and management of the Social Pension for Indigent Senior Citizens (SPISC) Program will remain with the DSWD. The DSWD may seek assistance from the NCSC to ensure the program’s successful execution, which provides vital monetary grants to support the daily subsistence and medical needs of eligible senior citizens.
President Marcos’s order also cites Republic Act No. 12231, or the Government Optimization Act of 2025, which provides the authority to streamline the bureaucracy through the transfer and integration of government agency functions.
