Elders who sat as officials-for-a-day last week want Baguio’s water distribution utility to study the possibility of providing septic tank desludging services.
In a resolution, the Senior Citizen Officials-For-a-Day (Scofad) asked the Baguio Water District board of directors (BOD) to consider providing septic tank cleaning or desludging services as part of the water utility’s corporate social responsibility programs.
Scofad councilor Flordeliza Lagera, in her proposal, suggested for BWD to replicate the initiatives of Maynilad and Manila Water Company that provide septic tank desludging services for their consumers every five to seven years.
Lagera said this initiative will help address environmental concerns and ensure public safety as it can mitigate the spread of diseases and prevent emission of foul odor from overflowing septic tanks.
She said the BWD BOD may explore the possibility of offering the services for free or at an affordable fee.
Asked what affordable fee means, Lagera said it is up to BWD’s policy-making body to determine what they deem would be minimal for the consumers.
“We are simply requesting them to study the possibility and it we leave it to their prerogative if they will offer the services for free or at a minimal cost, as part of their corporate social responsibility,” she said.
There are 46,079 consumers connected to BWD’s service lines as of August.
Lagera’s proposal was one of the matters discussed by the elders when they sat as Scofad councilors on Oct. 10.
The Scofad is one of the events of the Filipino Elderly Month observance of the city government, which is anchored on Republic Act 9994 that grants additional benefits and privileges to senior citizens in recognition of their contributions to nation-building.
Among other proposals, the Scofad approved the ordinance granting of P1,000 birthday incentive to all registered elders 65 years and above yearly, whether or not they are receiving pension or other incentives from the city government.
The senior citizens also asked the Regional Tripartite and Wages Productivity Board to standardize the basic pay of accredited freelances and in-house tour guides in Baguio and for the barangays to establish and consistently maintain their barangay reading centers, among the other proposals.
The proposals submitted by the Scofad councilors may be adopted by the city council or serve as basis of the members in crafting future legislations. – Jane B. Cadalig
April 25, 2024
