Level of Awareness and Implementation of the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010 (RA 9994) in Pasay City: Inputs to Enhancement
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.23840972Keywords:
RA 9994, Expanded Senior Citizens Act, policy awareness, policy implementation, local governance, Project KALINGA 9994Abstract
This study determined the level of awareness and the extent of implementation of Republic Act No. 9994, the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010, in Pasay City as bases for a policy enhancement framework. Anchored on McGuire’s Awareness-to-Action Framework and Pressman and Wildavsky’s Implementation Theory, the study employed a quantitative descriptive-correlational design. A researcher-developed, expert-validated, and pilot-tested survey questionnaire was administered to 275 stakeholders—10 Office for Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) employees, 67 local government unit (LGU) implementers, 98 service providers, and 100 senior citizens—selected through total enumeration and quota sampling with voluntary response. Data were analyzed using percentage, weighted mean, ranking, one-way analysis of variance, and Pearson’s product-moment correlation coefficient. The overall awareness of senior citizens of the provisions of RA 9994 was moderate (M = 3.24): awareness was comprehensive for procedural requirements, discounts and exemptions, and health and medical benefits, but only moderate for social protection and community participation. The respondent groups differed significantly in their assessments across all five awareness dimensions (p < .05), with senior citizens consistently rating their own awareness lowest. Implementation was rated as moderate (M = 3.12), with accessibility and inclusiveness obtaining the lowest rating. Awareness was significantly and positively related to perceived implementation (r = .413 to .709). Information and communication, procedural and administrative, enforcement and compliance, and socio-economic and environmental barriers were all assessed as noticeable challenges. Based on these findings, Project KALINGA 9994 was developed and was evaluated by the respondents as highly suitable (M = 4.57), highly acceptable (M = 4.45), and highly feasible (M = 4.56). The study concludes that awareness is an operational driver of policy execution and that strengthening information dissemination, simplifying procedures, and reinforcing monitoring and participatory governance are essential to translating RA 9994 into equitable local service delivery for older persons.
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