Coalition of Services of the Elderly

What Coalition of Services of the Elderly does

Coalition of Services of the Elderly, Inc. (COSE) is a private non-government organization headquartered in Quezon City, Philippines, founded in 1989 by Edward M. Gerlock at the initiative of HelpAge International's Graeme Jackson and Urban Poor Associates' Denis Murphy. The organization works with older persons (60+ years), particularly the poor and marginalized, and has built a portfolio of programs including Active and Healthy Aging, Income Security, Community Resilience (inclusive disaster risk reduction), Group Home residential care, Protection and Inclusion advocacy, and the annual Sampung Ulirang Nakatatanda (SUN) Awards. COSE has strengthened 1,113 Older Persons Organizations across 25 provinces and 89 cities and municipalities, and has spawned 65 federations plus the national Confederation of Older Persons Associations of the Philippines (COPAP). The current operating leadership consists of Executive Director Emily N. Beridico and a Board chaired by Reynaldo A. Kangleon.

COSE's core service delivery operates through a community organizing model: trained coordinators and community health volunteers work through barangay-level OPOs, supported by institutional partnerships with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and international donors including BMZ (Germany), HelpAge Germany, Aktion Deutschland Hilft, Caritas Germany, and Misereor Germany. Recent direct service additions include a Mobile Health Care Service, Botika Binhi community pharmacy, Wellness Centers in Leyte and Cebu, and the Pagkalinga Center day care facility in Catarman, Northern Samar. COSE generates revenue through donations collected via BPI bank accounts, PayPal, and Dragonpay (with published tiers ranging from PHP500 monthly to PHP5,000 one-time), supplemented by project-based grants from international humanitarian and development organizations. The organization is a licensed Social Welfare and Development Agency and has contributed to senior citizen legislation including RA 9994 (Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010) and RA 10645 (Mandatory PhilHealth Coverage, 2014).

COSE is not a technology company; it operates no SaaS platform, no APIs, no proprietary software, and no AI-powered products. Its delivery model is human-led and community-based, with infrastructure financed by foreign donors since the 1990s (the Group Home buildings were donated by Misereor Germany in 1992). The organization pursues advocacy for a Long-term Care Act and is positioned as a thought leader on aging policy in the Philippines through its studies, publications, and partnerships with HelpAge International. As an NGO, COSE does not pursue equity funding, has no parent company, no subsidiaries, and operates as a non-profit entity whose financials are not publicly disclosed.

Name

Coalition of Services of the Elderly

Legal name

Coalition of Services of the Elderly, Inc.

Website

https://cose.org.ph

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Coalition of Services of the Elderly, Inc. (COSE) is a Philippine non-government organization founded in 1989 that organizes and supports Older Persons Organizations across 25 provinces, delivering community-based health, income security, resilience, and residential care programs for poor and marginalized older persons.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Elderly social welfare and community-based aging services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly (6233), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Independent Living Community Ancillary Services (Dining/Transportation/Wellness Programs) (HLADAAAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC)

Keywords

• Elderly advocacy services
• Community-based aging programs
• Social welfare services
• Disaster risk reduction
• Older persons organizations

Headquarters

HQ city

Diliman

HQ country

Philippines

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: COSE generates revenue through donations from individuals and organizations, with various donation tiers supporting specific programs such as the Group Home for abandoned older women and Older Persons Organizations. International development organizations and government agencies provide project-based funding.
2. Institutional Funding: COSE receives support from international organizations including BMZ (Federal Republic of Germany), HelpAge Germany, Aktion Deutschland Hilft, Caritas Germany, and Misereor Germany for specific projects targeting older persons in humanitarian and development contexts.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

COSE is a non-government organization (NGO) in the Philippines that delivers community-based programs for older persons, including formation and strengthening of Older Persons Organizations (OPOs), community health programs, income security and livelihood initiatives, disaster risk reduction, age-friendly advocacy, residential care through its Group Home for abandoned older women, and recognition through the annual Sampung Ulirang Nakatatanda (SUN) Awards. Its core service portfolio comprises five areas: Active and Healthy Aging, Income Security, Community Resilience, Protection and Inclusion, and Group Home.

Product overview

COSE is a non-profit social welfare organization (NGO) focused on advocacy and direct service programs for older persons in the Philippines. The organization operates a portfolio of interconnected programs: the core Active and Healthy Aging, Income Security, Community Resilience, Protection and Inclusion, and Group Home residential care services form the primary service delivery structure. These are supported by the annual Sampung Ulirang Nakatatanda (SUN) Awards recognition program and extensive advocacy work. COSE also operates health-focused services including the Mobile Health Care Service, Botika Binhi community pharmacy, Wellness Centers, and the Pagkalinga Center day care facility. The organization collects donations through a multi-channel giving platform (BPI, PayPal, Dragonpay) and publishes studies and advocacy materials. COSE's work is anchored on the formation and strengthening of Older Persons Organizations (OPOs), with 1,113 OPOs organized across 25 provinces. The organization is not a technology company and does not offer a SaaS platform, APIs, or AI-powered products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Active and Healthy Aging Programs Community-based health programs that advocate for better health policies for older persons, form community health volunteers for geriatric care, develop health committees within OPOs, and conduct orientations on laws and policies related to older persons. Targets poor and marginalized older persons in the Philippines.
• Income Security Programs Initiatives that secure older persons' rights to age-friendly, diversified, and secure livelihood; adequate social protection; and equal employment opportunities. Introduces small-scale businesses, micro-lending, and typhoon-resilient communal farming within Older Persons Organizations.
• Community Resilience Programs Disaster risk reduction and management initiatives ensuring the active participation of older persons in all phases of DRRM and climate change adaptation. Includes inclusive community-based disaster risk reduction led by older persons and inclusive humanitarian response.
• Group Home (Residential Care Facility) Community-based residential care facility for abandoned older women located in San Jose, Del Monte, Bulacan. Provides basic needs including food, clothing, and medicines, and encourages residents to participate in community activities.
• Sampung Ulirang Nakatatanda (SUN) Awards Annual nationwide search and awarding of 10 most inspiring and outstanding older persons in the Philippines, held as part of Elderly Filipino Week. Recognizes contributions of older women and men, including farmers, persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples, fisherfolk, human rights advocates, and environmental advocates.
• Protection and Inclusion Advocacy Works with national and local government units and stakeholders to develop and implement policies and programs for the aging sector. Promotes rights and welfare of older persons through policy advocacy and awareness-raising of existing laws and policies, including push for a Long-term Care Act.
• Older Persons Organization (OPO) Formation and Strengthening Formation and strengthening of Older Persons Organizations through community organizing, capacity building, and advocacy. Establishes OPOs with clear Vision-Mission-Goals and supports community-based programs of the elderly (CBPE), federation building, and the national Confederation of Older Persons Associations of the Philippines (COPAP).
• Mobile Health Care Service Pilot project that brings accessible basic health care directly to older persons in their homes, especially in far-flung areas. Operated jointly with HelpAge International and initiated as part of the Typhoon Yolanda response.
• Botika Binhi (Community Pharmacy) Community pharmacy managed by Older People Organizations that provides access to affordable medicines for older persons in the community while also generating income for the OPO.
• Wellness Center Community health facility where older persons can access health services, introduced in Haiyan Response Project areas in Leyte and Cebu.
• Pagkalinga Center (Senior Citizens Day Care Center) Day care facility providing supervised care and engaging activities for older persons, particularly those showing early signs of dementia. Includes physical exercises and cognitive games in a structured daily program.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1,113 OPOs strengthened since 1989
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• HelpAge GermanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHelpAge Germany supports COSE's project in Camarines Sur focused on improving access to needs-based healthcare for older persons through strengthening OPOs capacity. Part of regional efforts to address ageing-related needs.
• Aktion Deutschland Hilft (ADH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerADH (Germany's alliance for humanitarian aid) supports COSE's project in Camarines Sur Province addressing healthcare needs of older persons through OPO strengthening.
• Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDSWD partnered with COSE in establishing the Group Home initiative as a residential care facility for abandoned older women. DSWD provides regulatory oversight and support for social welfare programs.
• Confederation of Older Persons Associations of the Philippines (COPAP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCOPAP was formed from COSE's vision to create a national movement of older persons. It has 111 member OPOs in the National Capital Region and advocates for older persons' rights and entitlements.
• HelpAge InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHelpAge International has partnered with COSE since the organization's founding in 1989. Joint programs include Typhoon Yolanda Response Programme and Mobile Health Care Services. HelpAge International's Graeme Jackson initiated the consultations that led to COSE's founding.
• Urban Poor Associates (UPA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUPA (formerly Sama-Sama) was COSE's initial contact in the Philippines through Dennis Murphy. UPA's Denis Murphy invited Edward Gerlock to participate in the consultation meeting that led to COSE's founding.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Broad incumbents

• AARP Foundation: US-based advocacy and service organization for older adults with broad policy influence. Comparable as a much larger, well-funded NGO driving senior policy and community programs at scale, serving as a benchmark for COSE's advocacy and community-building model.
• National Council on Aging (NCOA): Established US-based nonprofit working on aging issues through advocacy, community programs, and partnerships. Comparable as a larger, mature NGO providing a portfolio of community-based elderly services, advocacy, and capacity-building programs.
• Caritas International: Global Catholic humanitarian confederation providing social services including programs for older persons. Comparable as a multi-national organization with dedicated elderly welfare programs and a similar funding/donor relationship model (Caritas Germany funds COSE).

Direct peers

• Federation of Senior Citizens Associations of the Philippines (FSCAP): National federation of senior citizens organizations in the Philippines. Comparable as a domestic peer organization aggregating senior citizen associations and advocating for elderly rights, operating in overlapping geographies with COSE's OPO/federation/COPAP network.
• HelpAge Deutschland (HelpAge Germany): German affiliate of HelpAge International and a current COSE funder for the Camarines Sur healthcare project. Directly comparable as a European aging-focused NGO implementing programs in developing countries through community-based approaches.
• HelpAge International: Global network focused on older persons' rights and wellbeing that helped initiate COSE's founding in 1989. Directly comparable as an advocacy-and-program NGO targeting the same demographic and partnership network (HelpAge Germany, Caritas Germany).
• International Federation on Ageing (IFA): Global NGO focused on policy advocacy, education, and capacity building around population aging. Directly comparable mission as a multi-stakeholder advocacy organization working on age-friendly policy, similar to COSE's policy work on RA 9994, RA 10645, and the Long-term Care Act.

Regional players

• National Indian Council on Ageing (NICA): India-based national council focused on policy, advocacy, and programs for older persons. Comparable as a regional peer NGO with a similar mix of advocacy, community engagement, and direct service models serving elderly populations in a developing-country context.
• HelpAge Korea: South Korean affiliate of the HelpAge network focused on older persons' welfare. Comparable as a regional peer NGO in the HelpAge ecosystem with similar community-based elderly welfare programming in a different geography.

Others

• Misereor: German Catholic development agency and long-standing COSE partner that donated houses for COSE's Group Home in 1992. Comparable as a key institutional donor and partner with overlapping community development and social welfare priorities in developing countries.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/COSEincPH
• Xx.com/COSE_PH
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/coalition-of-services-of-the-elderly-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Coalition of Services of the Elderly