This year’s set of the city council senior citizen officials for-a-day, composed of selected participants from among the elderly and senior citizens of the city, held its session and approved measures and policies for the developmentof the city and promotion of the welfare of the constituents.
The special event is one of the special yearly activities for the meaningful and memorable celebration of Filipino Elderly Month every October and the observance of Scofad every first Monday of October mandated under Ordinance 57, s. 2009.
The meeting was presided over by SC Vice Mayor Ray Ekid and participated in by SC Councilors Fidelis Medina, Martina Olais, Corazon Garlejo, Elizabeth Aquino, Ernesto Ronquillo, Martina Olais, Lourdes Senen, Estella Florendo, Elizabeth Aquino, Josepha Gamsawen, Joseline Paac, Eugenio Quiaoit, Elma Buaquen, Ma. Estrella Catbagan Martinez, Nilda Nelly Salcedo, Ronald Catungal, and Magdalena Cayapa.
SC Secretary to the Sanggunian Emelita Britanico recorded the approval by the body of seven proposed ordinances and 31 resolutions.
The Scofad ordinances include the amendment of Ordinance 99, s. 2018 for the provision of financial assistance to certain solo parents and their wards as defined in the ordinance; grant of P1,000 incentive and a birthday cake to senior citizen residents on their birthdays; and increase of the monthly stipend from P4,500 to P5,000 of qualified barangay health workers, nutrition scholars, and nutrition action officers;
Amendment of Ordinance 01, s. 2003 or the Baguio City Number Coding Scheme to exempt private vehicles driven by an abled senior citizen from the coverage of the ordinance; amendment of Ordinance 67, s. 2011, for free usage of public or privately operated pay comfort rooms within the city to duly registered senior citizens instead of the 20 percent discount provided under the ordinance; and the provision of free legal assistance from the city government through the City Legal Office to all barangay officials who will sue or are being sued in the performance of their official functions.
Among the approved resolutions are requests for the telecommunication companies to consider installing their cables underground, and the fixing and removal of dangling and non-operational wires; for the barangays to provide first aid kits and identify a wellness area in the barangay hall or a senior citizen center for the senior citizens; for barangays and households to have compost pits or bins for biodegradables; and for business establishments to consider hiring/employing capable senior citizens;
For the City Buildings and Architecture Office to study the feasibility of public restrooms along the city and national roads and additional pedestrian hand railings along busy streets and sidewalks; for the Department of Transportation to conduct regular seminars and training on road courtesy for motorcycle riders; and for public officials and employees to practice courtesy in their offices through simple greetings to clients; and
For the Philippine National Police and other concerned government offices to conduct “bi-annual investment scam awareness seminars” for senior citizens.
Other resolutions are for the declaration of the first week of August of every year as Senior Citizens’ Sports Festival Week in the city, for the City Health Services Office to facilitate the conduct of the “annual senior citizen sports fest” at the Athletic Bowl;
Reiterating to operators of the standard stepboard height for public utility jeepneys under Ordinance 30, s. 2018; adopting a mandatory early detection and identification of children manifesting disabling conditions in pre-schools in the city; conducting “Dementia Health Fair Day” during the annual celebration of Elderly Month to strengthen the mental health of the elderly of the city; and conduct in the different barangays of “monthly district mental health seminars and spiritual upliftment” in coordination with the Mental Health Unit of the CHSO.
These will all be included in the city council’s agenda for its consideration and adoption into city resolutions or ordinances.
May 3, 2024
