Senior citizens rule Bontoc
BONTOC, Mountain Province – At least 29 senior citizens took the reign of running the Bontoc Municipal Government on October 1 in celebration of the Elderly Week every year.
Susana Bandas took over the seat of Mayor Franklin Odsey, Atty. Florence Taguiba replaced Vice - Mayor Eusebio Kabluyen for a day, and the senior citizens who took over the seats of the Municipal Council are Leoncio Lumbag, Frumentio Pala-os, Jose Fangasan, Betty Jane Dizon, Eufemia Chakas, Cyril Bacala, Sr., Norbertina Ramirez, Mary Sacgaca, Lilian Focasan, Caroline Castaneda and Linda Tangilag.
Other senior citizens who took over the seats of the department heads are Municipal Council Secretary Isabel Abad, Municipal Agriculturist Eliza Gayec; Market Supervisor Belinda Galo, Municipal Planning Development Officer Dominga Fagkangan, Municipal Assessor Asuncion Diaz, Municipal Health Officer Lydia Sumcad, Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officer Elizabeth Magwa, Municipal Engineer Elizabeth Carlos, Municipal Treasurer Edna Awangan, Municipal Local Civil Registrar Victoria Pe-el, Ruby Mangagley as the head of the Water Works Office; Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Officer Josefa Kanongkong, Municipal Accountant Evangeline Kin-iway; Municipal Budget Officer Magdalena Kising, Municipal Legal Officer Lydia Solomon, and Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer Elizabeth Longid.
As Senior Citizen Official for a Day (SCOFAD), they received the one day salary of the official whom they took over.
Odsey acknowledged the value and contribution of the senior citizen in nation building which starts at home and the community.
A senior citizen himself, the mayor encouraged the elderly not to
think and see their twilight years as a reason to be helpless and unproductive.
“We should be thankful that we were able to reach the twilight age. Our age should not be a hindrance in performing productive and recreational activities that we love to do, which we failed to do in our younger years because we are busy in our obligations at home and at work. Thus, let us take this as an opportunity to enjoy our life,” Odsey remarked.
Proclamation No. 470 issued on September 26, 1994, created the annual event to increase public awareness of the different issues concerning the elderly. These are the benefits and privileges due to the senior citizens that should not be overlooked. Republic Act 9994, or the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010, states that senior citizens are entitled to 20 percent discount on the purchase of certain goods and services, special five percent discount on prime commodities and basic necessities, and five percent utility discount on electric and water consumption.
The theme for this year’s celebration is “Kilalanin at Parangalan: Tagasulong ng Karapatan ng nakatatanda tungo sa Lipunang Mapagkalinga”.