The provincial Government of Catanduanes and the Provincial Social Welfare and Development (PSWDO) gave 20,000 to centenarians, Mrs. Natividad T. Tolledo age 101 from San Miguel, and Mr. Guillermo S. Tumala age 100 from Pandan during the Senior Citizens’ Congress.
On the event held on May 22, 2018 organized and headed by PSWDO and the Provincial Government, Governor Joseph “Boboy” Cua expressed his support to senior citizens.
“Kumpleto tabi an saindong sector. Mga retired teachers, mga pulis, kumpleto, iba-ibang ahensya adyaon sa sector ning senior citizens kaya talagang grabe ang respeto mi tabi sa senior citizens kaya ano man na programa nindo, piyatawan ko tabi ning kahulugan asin susuportahan ko kung anong mga programa magpoon sa provincial level, sa municipal level, down to the BASCA,” Cua said.
Gov. Cua added that the senior citizens’ health will be of paramount priority under his administration.
“Ang EBMC tabi, three months from now, igwa na kitang dialysis center… then comes end of this year, igwa kitang CT scan… kaya hopefully within the year, makahang ta su CT scan sa EBMC ta kung dai kamong pang-bayad puntahan niyo ako ta palibrehon ko kamo,” he added.
Meanwhile, Maria Zaila B. Romero, Office Chief of Local Health Insurance, discussed the rights, privileges and benefits Senior Citizens can enjoy.
Emily D. Mendoza, Social Worker II of DSWD RO V, discussed RA 10868 or the Centenarian Act of 2016. It covered the scope and coverage of the republic act, awards and incentives from the National and Local Government and the Identification Documents needed to be qualified as a centenarian.
Oriel Bonagua, Focal Person on Senior Citizen Program DSWD RO V gave updates on Catanduanes’ implementation of Social Pension Program.
Bonagua said that the total target of Social Pension Program in the 1st and 2nd quarter of 2018 is 15, 574.
Myla A. Cruz of DSWD RO V gave an orientation and updates on the Republic Act 9994 or the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010. Her discussion focused on the benefits and privileges as enclosed in the republic act.
An open forum where senior citizens raised their concerns were also given time during the event. Inquiries were answered by the resource speakers.
The event was participated by Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officers (MSWDO), Barangay Association of Senior Citizen Affairs (BASCA) Presidents, Provincial Federation of Senior Citizens’ Officers, and Office of Senior Citizens’ Affairs (OSCA) chairman from different municipalities in the province.
Meanwhile, the local government headed by Gov. Cua also gave shirts and caps to BASCA Presidents during the awarding ceremony.
Present also in the occasion are PBM Vincent Villaluna, Committee Chairman on Family, elderly and Persons with Disability and Vice Governor Shirley Abundo. (G.O.- Information Unit)
