The Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) is set to include dementia awareness discussions in its Pre-Departure Orientation Seminars (PDOS), as part of efforts to better equip emigrating Filipinos for long-term health concerns that may arise as they age abroad.
The move supports the agency’s broader mandate of safeguarding the welfare of overseas Filipinos by expanding pre-departure education while promoting sustained ties between emigrants and the Philippines throughout their lifetime.
The plan was announced during a roundtable discussion in Quezon City organized by the Australian-Filipino Community Service (AFCS), where stakeholders met to assess existing elderly care programs and outline long-term strategies addressing dementia among Filipino senior citizens.
CFO Undersecretary Ma. Arlene S. Borja said the commission has ongoing initiatives aimed at ensuring elderly Filipinos overseas remain able to access Philippine government services despite being based abroad.
In addition to the new PDOS content, the CFO also committed to sharing updated emigrant-related statistics to support policy development and to strengthening efforts that keep aging Filipinos connected to the country politically, culturally, and economically.
Borja cited the CFO’s support for the Expanded Centenarians Act and its advocacy for broader healthcare inclusion, including efforts pushing for the portability of U.S. Medicare benefits for Filipino retirees who return to the Philippines.
She also pointed to a recent collaboration involving migrant organizations, non-government groups, and the Department of Migrant Workers to establish a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC), with a pilot project in San Pablo, Laguna intended to serve as a retirement hub model for overseas Filipinos choosing to spend their later years in the Philippines.
The CFO also recognized AFCS as a key partner in promoting dementia-related health initiatives across both the Philippines and Australia.
AFCS runs the Maharlika Lodge in Melbourne, which serves as a venue for Filipino seniors’ social activities. In the Philippines, the organization supports more than 3,000 seniors through its “Seniors’ Walk,” held during Filipino Elderly Week to encourage mental health awareness.
AFCS Chaplain Normina Forteza also acknowledged the CFO’s role in helping facilitate programs that benefit Filipino senior citizens.
Other participants in the discussion included Dr. Mary Jean Loreche, former chairperson of the National Commission of Senior Citizens; Dr. Maurice Sanosa of the National Center for Mental Health; Dr. Alvin Cenina, president of the Alzheimer’s Disease Association of the Philippines; Ms. Precy Cruz, a dementia nurse and AFCS trainer; and Dr. Jacqueline Dominguez, president of the Institute for Dementia Care Asia.
