The Quezon City (QC) government Sunday said the benefits for senior citizens remain the city’s major priorities as it seeks to improve its poverty alleviating measure to achieve the goal.

Dr. LaRainne Sarmiento, chairman of the Quezon City anti-poverty integration task force (APITF), said that this will be the city’s continuing commitment to the public although the youth comprise 33 percent of QC population.

She said the increase in the number of senior citizens aged 60 years old and above can be attributed to longer lifespan and advancement of science and proper nutrition among the elderly.

“Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr. wants the city government to continue providing better services to senior citizens,’’ Sarmiento added.

Citing the projection of the National Statistics Office (NSO), the number of senior citizens, with the current trend, is expected to swell in the next three decades.

The NSO report revealed that in 2005 the number of the elderly comprises 6.1 percent or 5.3 million of the nation’s population with the proportion expected to increase to 13.8 percent or 19.6 million in 2040.

Sarmiento said the city government will provide valuable assistance to ensure that the health and well being through proper nutrition, exercise and healthful yet simple lifestyles of the senior citizens are strictly followed.

At the barangay level, chairman Celso de Veas of barangay Quirino 2-B has organized a senior citizens group doing calisthenics and light and appropriate workouts every Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at the barangay’s playground to keep the elderly trim and fit.