The National Commission of Senior Citizen said the government must prepare to address senior citizens' concerns, whose population is estimated to double in 20 years.

In a press conference hosted by the Philippine Information Agency over the weekend, NCSC Chairman Atty. Franklyn Quijano said there is a need to improved the efforts in addressing the needs and challenges faced by the elderly population.

"Twenty years from now, senior citizens number will double. From over 11 million today, 24 million in 20 years. Unless the government will address these concerns, future problems can be easily solved," Quijano said.

Quijano said the advance technology and digitalization will help a lot to track and enlist all the senior citizens in the country.

"Senior citizens are heavily organized," Quijano described the elderly populace, which he believe can still help with the country's development by sharing their expertise.

"They (senior citizen) are not just takers. They can still be productive to help in the development," Quijano explained.

A data based, Quijano added, must be harness to provide a holistic view on the needs of senior citizens, from health, legal, economic to "capacity-related" needs.

The gray area, however, is that senior citizens are not well represented, according to the NCSC head.

"There is no institutional decision for them to be represented," Quijano said, citing membership of elderly in the local Barangay Development Council as an example.

Quijano said the representation is just to acknowledge the significant role played by senior citizens in the society and even to their families.