It’s that time of the year when senior citizens become officers for a day at City Hall in recognition of the contribution of the elderly in nation building.
Mayor Benjamin Magalong issued Executive Order 132, s. 2023 designating senior citizens in the various offices of the city government of Baguio for the Senior Citizen Official-for-a-day (Scofad) tomorrow, Oct. 9.
Recognition of senior citizens is spelled out in Republic Act 9994 or the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010 and Proclamation 470 s. 1994 declaring the observance of the Filipino Elderly Week every first week of October.
In Baguio, Ordinance 57 s. 2009 allows senior citizens to participate in nation building by acting as officials for a day in October every year while Resolution 66, s. 2015 urges regional line agencies based in Baguio to adopt the Scofad.
Rebecca Aganon who will be sitting as congressman for a day, Purita Pacial as mayor for the day and Ray Ekid as vice mayor for a day will be the top city officials for the day replacing Rep. Mark Go, Mayor Benjamin Magalong, and Vice Mayor Faustino Olowan.
The Scofad were screened, interviewed by a panel, and finally confirmed to serve the public by a team composed of the Federation of Baguio Senior Citizens Association; Office of the Senior Citizen Affairs the city council committee on women and social services; Philippine Government Retirees Association, and the City Social Welfare and Development Office.
The theme for this year’s celebration is “Honoring the invaluable legacy of silipino Senior Citizens.”
Scofad aims to provide opportunities for inclusion and participation to senior citizens in the governance of the city, thereby appreciating their continuous vigor and dedication to the improvement of Baguio. – Julie G. Fianza and Jessa Mardy P. Samidan
