Joint Memorandum Circular 2025-1 S. 2025: Reinforcing the Continued Provision of Humanitarian Aid and Assistance to the Members of the Malaya Lolas

WHEREAS, the Philippines is fully committed to the promotion, protection and fulfillment of women’s rights pursuant to national laws and jurisprudence, and its international human rights obligations.

WHEREAS, the Philippines recognizes the adversities faced by female victim-survivors during the Second World War, specifically the members of the Malaya Lolas (“Free Grandmothers”), a Pampanga-based organization established to provide support to Filipina victim-survivors of sexual slavery.

WHEREAS, the Philippines expresses continued solidarity and utmost respect for all female victim-survivors of war, including the members of the Malaya Lolas, and recalls the interventions made such as the Assistance to Lolas in Crisis Situation Project implemented in 1997-2002, aimed at rebuilding their self-esteem and enabling them to cope with the crisis brought about by their traumatic experience during the Second World War.[1]

WHEREAS, the Philippines, through the agencies identified herein, takes cognizance of the need to further strengthen its compassionate and multi-faceted approach in the provision of humanitarian aid and assistance to the members of the Malaya Lolas to enable them to live better lives.

NOW, THEREFORE, pursuant to existing laws, rules and guidelines, such as Republic Act (R.A.) No.. 9257 (Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2003), as amended, and other applicable laws, rules and guidelines, the agencies concerned are committed to further strengthen the provisions of humanitarian aid and assistance to the members of the Malaya Lolas.

Section 1.  Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC). The DSWD and the NCSC shall provide any or all of the following assistance and services to the members of the Malaya Lolas:

a. Social welfare packages or assistance such as social pension for indigent citizens, assistance to individuals in crisis situation, access to residential care facilities for the elderly, and centenarian cash gift: Provided, that the grant of social pension for indigent senior citizens and centenarian gifts shall be undertaken by NCSC, upon the complete transfer of the said grant or program by the DSWD to the NCSC.

b. Financial assistance, in times of emergency, to cover expenses for food, clothing, shelter, minor repair of house, medicines and medical supplies, vitamins, regular medical check-ups, transportation, utilities, and other basic necessities, in accordance with the guidelines in the implementation of Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation Program and Emergency Cash Transfer Program;

c. Hospice care, when necessary; and

d. Funeral assistance, such as expenses for interment facilities, transfer of remains to their residence/hometown, cremation, and/or burial in accordance with the family’s customary practices in accordance with the guidelines in the implementation of Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation Program.

Section 2. The Department of Health (DOH). The DOH shall provide and prioritize provision of medical and wellness services to the members of the Malaya Lolas, which shall include the following:

a. Health services, access to health facilities, and other medical requirements including promotive, preventive, curative, rehabilitative, and palliative care, in coordination with local DOH-retained, government-run and other government hospitals or facilities, which include, but are not limited to, the Jose B. Lingad Memorial General Hospital and Dr. Paulino J. Garcia Memorial Research and Medical Center.

b. Counseling, healing, caregiving and regular visits by the local social workers, health workers, or by appropriate psychiatric licensed therapists when needed, in coordination with the LGUs concerned through its local social welfare office.

c. Comprehensive health and medical care commensurate to the health concerns of the members of the Malaya Lolas, through the Dr. Eva Macaraeg Macapagal National Center for Geriatric Health.

d. Medical assistance and wellness monitoring, including diagnosis, treatment, hospitalization, and regular home visits by medical personnel, in coordination with local government-run hospitals and facilities, taking into account the health concerns of the members of the Malaya Lolas relating to heart problems, rheumatism, hypertension, diabetes and its complications, cataracts, dementia memory loss, and other medical ailments.

e. Assistive devices, such as eyeglasses, hearing aids, walking canes, and wheelchairs to ensure daily activities are secure, easier, and safer thus assisting the members of the Malaya Lolas to be more active and independent. 

Section 3. Limitation on the scope of application of this Circular.  The assistance and services provided under this Circular shall be granted only to the members of the Malaya Lolas.

Section 4. Oral History and Historical Documentation. TheDepartment of Education (DepEd) and National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), in coordination with the DOH and other relevant agencies, shall jointly lead the recording and preservation of oral history on the Malaya Lolas’ experiences during Second World War, through interviews granted with consent and strictly in compliance with the ethical conduct of the recording of oral history, with the aim of highlighting resiliency of the Malaya Lolas, to provide lessons to, and increase appreciation by, future generations.

The records of the oral history, and other pertinent documents contributed by various government agencies shall be deposited in the NHCP Historical Data Bank.  

Access to confidential documents or information stored in the said data bank can only be made upon the consent of the agency which provided said documents or information.

Section 5.  Educational Awareness and Advocacy. The DepEd, in coordination with the PCW and other relevant agencies, shall develop a communication plan, including educational awareness campaign, to highlight the indomitable spirit and resiliency of the members of the Malaya Lolas.

The communication plan and educational awareness campaigns shall also highlight prevention of Gender-Based Violence.

Section 6.  Funding.  Funds necessary for the implementation of this Circular shall be charged against the respective budget of the government agencies concerned by attribution to their related programs as provided in the General Appropriations Act, particularly the existing programs and funds of the DSWD and DOH  concerned in the provision of assistance and services. 

Additional funding may be provided by other government agencies and entities whose mandates are related to providing financial aid and assistance to vulnerable groups.

Section 7. Compliance to Existing Guidelines.  This Circular is subject to the existing guidelines, rules and regulations of government agencies’ respective programs under which the humanitarian aid and assistance for the Malaya Lolas will be provided.

The agencies concerned shall issue a separate Department Order/Memorandum Circular on the implementation of this JMC for information and guidance of their relevant units, and regional and local offices.

Section 8. Monitoring and Reporting.  The Presidential Human Rights Committee Secretariat (PHRCS), with the assistance of the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW), shall be the lead agency in monitoring the effective implementation of this Circular. 

All identified agencies, within three (3) months from the effectivity of this Circular, shall submit progress reports to the PHRCS, through the PCW, on the specific programs implemented in compliance with this Circular. Thereafter, a yearly report shall be submitted by the said agencies within thirty (30) days from the end of each calendar year. The PCW shall consolidate the said reports representing the progress of implementation of this Circular.

The PCW shall submit a yearly report to the Office of the President through the PHRCS within sixty (60) days from the end of each calendar year.

Section 9. Effectivity Clause. This joint memorandum circular shall take effect fifteen (15) days from publication either in the Official Gazette or in two (2) national newspapers of general circulation and from filing of three (3) certified true copes with the University of the Philippines Law Center.

Done in the City of Manila, this 28^th day of January in the year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Twenty-Five.

Signed and agreed upon by:

Download a copy.

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[1] An Evaluative Research in the Implementation of the Assistance to Lolas in Crisis Situation (ALCS) Project.  https://www.awf.or.jp/pdf/ALCS.pdf