Police Lock up cells in the city are all congested for the reason that the detainees who were
issued with commitment orders by the court were not yet transferred to Zamboanga City Jai due to
the Covid 19 outbreak in the said facility, infecting the PDLs and BJMP personnel thereat.
In the jails visited according to the plan, no human rights violations were reported.
8. Senior Citizens/ Elderly
As of the present, 67 municipalities and 5 cities of the 72 local government units have updated
the Senior Citizens Profile. There are also 67 Offices of the Senior Citizen Affairs (OSCAs) and 47
Senior Citizens Centers established in the region pursuant to R.A. 9257. It is likewise noted that
54, 625 senior citizens have already been issued with the Senior Citizen’s I.D.s.
CHR-IX is an active member of the RIAC where issues and concerns affecting senior citizens
were raised and discussed. Under the RIACs Philippines Plan of Action for 2017 to 2021, three
important issues and concerns were raised, viz:
1. Senior Citizens and their Development- to mainstream the concerns of senior citizens
and provide them with social protection and security;
2. Advancing their Health and Well-being into old age- to ensure the access and
availability of quality and appropriate health care services for senior citizens;
3. To ensure supportive and enabling environment- to have an active social service and
community support for the senior citizens.
The Covid 19 outbreak makes our elderly easy preys to the virus particularly those who have
existing co-morbidities or health issues. Thus, during the enhanced community quarantine, local
and national protocols mandated them to stay at home except if necessary for purchase of
medicines or other essentials. This restriction somehow affected them especially those who at their
ripe age are still the ones finding means for the sustenance of the family. These called for
continuous RIAC online meetings among stakeholders.
9. Migrant Workers
Increase in migant workers in Zamboanga City may be attributed to the net migration rate
and rapid urbanization which brought about positive and negative results particularly on service
delivery, resource mobilization and social concerns.
DSWD Field Office IX started receiving and serving deportees from Malaysia as early as
1986. Filipinos in the southern part especially the Tausugs, Sama and Badjao have been going in
and out of Malaysia and Malaysians similarly have freely travelled in southern Philippines.
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