By Mike G. Jamisola, September 14, 2022
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There have been numerous reports and actual complaints recently about “scammers” selling National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC) data forms to hapless senior citizens in Region 11, Caraga Administrative Region (CAR), and the NCSC is quick to act and investigate the anomaly.
An enraged NCSC Chairman Atty. Franklin Quijano immediately ordered a thorough investigation by asking concerned authorities in the said regions to look into these complaints and file appropriate charges against the perpetrators, who are trying to exploit the aggressive data-gathering efforts of the NCSC.
“I would like to assure our elderlies that we will handle these cases in no time and run after these heartless “scammers” until the long arm of the law catches on them”, Quijano said.
Quijano added that enhanced NCSC senior citizens data form are not for sale and that they can be accessed and downloaded via the official National Commission of Senior Citizens website – ncsc.gov.ph – wherein internet-savvy users can fill up the forms and sign up without hassle and free of charge.
Those who are digitally challenged or living in areas where there is no internet connectivity, the NCSC coordinators in each region bring with them hard copies of the forms as they physically interact with the seniors and have them fill up the forms manually.
NCSC Commissioner Ida Yap-Patron, who handles the Regions 9, 11, 13 and other parts of BARMM and Zamboanga Peninsula, was the first to hear the complaints saying that the initial reports of persons or group of persons selling the NCSC data forms as much as P120-130 per set of copy in Davao provinces and Caraga Region.
Comm. Ida Patron added that said “scammers” convince their would-be victims to immediately avail of the forms and fill up as these forms are extremely necessary if they want to avail more benefits or “ayuda” from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the NCSC.
The NCSC is currently embarking on an aggressive data-banking campaign/drive in preparation for the transfer of some functions and programs, particularly the social pension fund for senior citizens from the DSWD, which will commence at the start of 2023.
The NCSC has also added to its senior citizen data forms some vital information including the older person’s source of income (if any), skill set, and health profile among others.
For more details on the NCSC’s digital senior citizen data forms kindly visit its official website: ncsc.gov.ph and register free of charge.