President Ferdinand 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) through Executive Order No. 96.
The move aims to strengthen policies and programs for the elderly by linking the NCSC more closely with the DSWD, in line with the administration’s push for greater bureaucratic efficiency.
Created under RA 11350 in 2019, the NCSC oversees the promotion and protection of senior citizens’ rights and welfare. All DSWD functions for poor and vulnerable seniors have since been transferred to the NCSC, except for the Social Pension for Indigent Senior Citizens (SPISC).
Under EO 96, the SPISC program will remain with the DSWD for now but will be turned over to the NCSC within three years. The program provides cash aid to indigent seniors for daily needs and medical expenses.
EO 96 also cited the Government Optimization Act of 2025, which empowers the President to transfer or integrate agency functions to streamline government operations.IMT
