The loosening of restrictions for fully vaccinated senior citizens is a welcome development in policy. Allowing older persons to freely go outside their homes, subject to minimum health protocols, indicates respect by the State to the autonomy of older persons and their right to decide for their own without undermining the risks of COVID-19.

It has to be noted, however, that only around 5% of the older persons population have already accessed a COVID-19 vaccine, not necessarily by choice, but primarily because of unavailability in their respective local governments and inaccessibility of vaccination sites. It is critically important for the government to ensure that the limited supply of vaccines is distributed equitably in all provinces of the country so that all priority groups, including senior citizens, are vaccinated as soon as possible. It is also critically important for the government to reach out proactively to senior citizens so that barriers in accessing vaccination sites, whether physical, economic, or informational, are overcome.

We remind law enforcement authorities and local government units that, with the new policy, it does not mean that unvaccinated or partially vaccinated older persons do not enjoy a similar freedom. As stated in the IATF-EID Omnibus Guidelines on the Implementation of Community Quarantine (as of 6 May 2021), ALL OLDER PERSONS, regardless of vaccination status, may go outside their homes if the purpose is to obtain essential goods and services, or for work in essential industries and offices or such other permitted activities. The Department of the Interior and Local Government clarified this further in Memorandum Circular 2020-110 and tasked all LGUs to ensure their local executive order and/or ordinances shall respect the freedom of movement of older persons pursuant to the Omnibus Guidelines. In 2020, we have received information from senior citizens themselves and monitored cases reported by the media about how local quarantine implementers have violated their right to freedom of movement and to access essential services, such as transportation and entry to grocery stores, and have subjected them to unnecessary and unjustified situations or worse, punitive measures. We urge local chief executives to ensure that this does not happen again and to fully respect the right of older persons to be treated with dignity amid these challenging times.