To work with older persons, especially the poor and marginalized, in upholding their rights while respecting cultural diversity, nurturing their potentials, recognizing them as a significant sector and ensuring their participation in matters affecting their lives.
The Coalition of Services of the Elderly, Inc. (COSE) is a non-government organization working with the older persons in urban and rural communities through community organizing, advocacy and networking, and capacity building to support them in addressing issues and concerns that are affecting their lives. COSE implements programs and activities on Health and Active Aging, Livelihood, Protection and Inclusion (rights & entitlements), and Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM). As a result of our work with the communities, Older Persons Organizations (OPOs) have established their own community-based programs of the elderly (CBPE) based on their assessed needs and capacities, inspiring other older persons in their communities to join them. COSE was established with the support of HelpAge International on November 28, 1989 upon consultation with individuals from the government, academe, non-government and people’s organizations.
COSE’s work with older persons is guided by its vision of an equitable society for all ages where older persons live in dignity, remain healthy, self-reliant, secure, and free to commit themselves to others and society. To attain its vision, COSE is committed to work with older persons, especially the poor and marginalized, in upholding their rights while respecting cultural diversity, nurturing their potentials, recognizing them as a significant sector and ensuring their participation in matters affecting their lives.
COSE has been working with older persons for 31 years, this has led to the organizing of older persons and the formation of Older Persons Organization (OPOs) in the country since 1990. At present, COSE has organized 850 OPOs in 21 provinces (62 cities/municipalities) in the country. These OPOs were federated based on geographical location and were confederated in 2006 into what is known as the Confederation of Older Persons’ Associations of the Philippines (COPAP), a partner of COSE in program works such as advocacy and organizing older persons groups.
COSE is working closely with different stakeholders in the country including National Government Agencies, Local Government Units (LGUs), Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and Older Persons Organizations to ensure that older persons are claiming their rights and entitlements through advocacy on older person-friendly policies and formation of Community-Based Programs of the Elderly (CBPE).
The Goals of COSE are as follows: