● Unavailability and accessibility to age-friendly food and non-food items is an important issue to elderly women. Food items that lack in nutrition, such as sardines, instant noodles and canned goods, for instance, are not advisable for the elderly. However, these are the food items that are usually included in relief packs. ● Liniment is the most appreciated and necessary non-food item by elderly persons. However, it is not included in the standard non-food items in the relief packs. ● Difficult access to drop off point for relief goods is also an issue to elderly persons. Many find it challenging to walk long distances to get to the points of relief distribution. ● Elderly persons are also prone to abuses, such as physical, psychological and financial, many of which go unreported. ● Elderly persons have increased health needs but health services can be limited during disaster operations. There is also lack of medical specialists for elderly persons during emergencies. ● Based on the report of Ms. Kate Pagsolingan from the Coalition of Services of the Elderly (COSE) during the Forum-Workshop on Empowering Rural Women amidst Disasters and Crisis Situations that was held on March 28-29, 2017, there is limited coverage of social protection mechanisms with only 54% of senior citizens receiving social pension which accounts for an estimated 3.5 million elderly persons with no income security. Frequently, a big percentage is composed of women because they have not been part of the formal economy (CHR Documentation Report - Forum-Workshop on Empowering Rural Women amidst Disasters and Crisis Situations, 2017). ● Related to the previous issue is the need to improve program systems that every senior citizen can avail, such as financial assistance which may be in the form of universal social pension. ● Regarding RA 9994 or the Expanded Senior Citizens Act, the government should create social safety nets for the Older Persons to prevent the impacts of disaster. This issue should be included in legislative discussions in addition to other benefits such as the 20% discount accorded to senior citizens. ● Oftentimes, elder women’s capacities are not recognized, utilized and strengthened. They are perceived to be weak and lacking in capacity; thus, preventing them from being given opportunities to work or participate in livelihood projects. Ageism or discrimination against older persons is manifested in this issue. 3. Indigenous Peoples ● IPs are mostly geographically isolated, living in places where the natural resources are located. Thus, they are more difficult to reach for the provision of relief goods and services. ● In relation to the aforementioned issue, IPs suffer from lack of basic services and exclusion from government programs and projects which include assistance in times of natural disasters and/or armed conflict. ● IPs are often affected by peace and security issues in their area. The influx of mining industries and commercial ventures has resulted in some incidents of harassment of the IP inhabitants. Some are said to be also subjected to false promises to allow such industries to operate in their ancestral domain. 24