ILOILO CITY (PIA) — Seven municipalities in this province were hailed for their outstanding contribution in enhancing the lives and promoting the welfare of senior citizens.
The Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office led the awarding ceremony during the Elderly Filipino Week Culminating Activity on October 31, anchored with the theme, “Senior Citizens – Building the Nation, Inspiring Generation”.
Pavia town was named the Most Senior Citizen-Friendly Municipality in the province for its wellness best practices among the elderly sector such as celebrating Senior Citizen’s Week that features activities Walk for Life and Pavia Sayaw for Senior Citizens.
Pavia also distributed assistive devices and e-bike livelihood program to the elderly sikad drivers, and offered free eye checkup and eyeglasses.
Mayor Luigi Gorriceta received the award from PSWDO Acting Provincial Government Department Head Rani Melvi Cuarte, PSWDO Technical Assistance Division Chief and Senior Citizen Focal Ann Rapunzal Ganzon, and Project Evaluation Officer II Ma. Theresa Comoda.
On the other hand, the municipality of Pototan placed second followed by Santa Barbara that won third place. Mayor Rafael Enrique Lazaro and Mayor Dennis Superficial received the awards on behalf of their municipality.
The champion received a cash prize of P50,000 while the second and third placer got P30,000 and P20,000 respectively.
Further, the four finalists include the municipalities of Badiangan, Guimbal, Miagao, and Leganes.
According to Cuarte, Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. is supportive of the programs and projects for senior citizens under his social justice agenda MoRProGRes Iloilo.
Last year, Gov. Defensor allotted P10 million as monetary awards and recognition to qualified octogenarian, nonagenarian, and centenarian in the province.
“This year, he allotted P3 million for the octogenarian, nonagenarian, and centenarian incentives already disbursed last July. But we know that it is not enough so Governor Toto added P7 million in our supplemental budget for 2024 and was already approved for implementation,” Cuarte said.
Provincial Administrator Raul Banias, for his part, shared that the provincial government is also improving its programs on public health and hospital services to cater to the needs of the elderly. (AAL/LMLE/PIA Iloilo/With reports from Iloilo Provincial Gov’t)
