Senior citizens take over Baguio, Benguet
BENGUET officials were practically unseated Monday as senior citizens in the province took over the provincial capitol for a day.
With the theme: Pagkilala sa Kakayahan, Ambag, at Paglahok ng mga Nakatatanda sa Lipunan, Senior Citizens Officers For-a-Day (SCOFAD) were tasked to work in place of the officials of Benguet.
“SCOFAD will experience the day to day activities of the government officials, for them to know how to conduct sessions, and observed the affairs of the government every day,” said Provincial Social Welfare Development Office Benguet officer Juana Bannawe.
Prior to their assumption of office, the SCOFAD have undergone parliamentary procedure orientation spearheaded by Chairman of Committee on Social Welfare Board Member Jim Botiwey.
Governor Crescencio Pacalso was relieved by SCOFAD Javier Valdez of Tublay while Vice Governor Florence Tingbaoen was replaced by SCOFAD Junaita Villena (La Trinidad.
Other senior citizen board members are Violeta Deras (Bokod), Andrew Labinio (Buguias), Eleuterio Lomesio (Kabayan), Benia Juan (Kapangan), Benigo Peg-ang, (Tuba), Eustacia Mayamnes (Kibungan), Amos Beta-a(Bakun), Elmo Calixto, (Bakun), Paz Areno (Sablan), Maximo Lambino (Mankayan), Jose Binay-an (Atok), Angelita Camuyot (Itogon), and Gregorio Gomintong ( Mankayan).
SCOFAD is celebrated as one of the foremost activity for the celebration of the Elderly Filipino Week, where senior citizens meet quarterly to provide up to date reports within their municipality.
Among the proposed resolution of the SCOFAD is the discouraging the conduct of gambling during the period of vigil in times of death in the Province of Benguet.
Another proposal passed by SCOFAD is a request to Benguet Governor Crescencio Pacalso to make representations to SM Cinema for the latter to grant free entrance to senior citizens of Benguet and a gathering within the monthlong observation of Benguet Foundation Day.
As of 2016 the PSWDO records 30,496 senior citizens in the province of Benguet.
In Baguio City, senior citizens chosen from the elderly associations handled executive and legislative matters after the turn-over during the flag-raising ceremonies.
In the administrative order issued by Mayor Mauricio Domogan, Rodolfo Abella and Juanita Gabaen would unseat Congressman Mark Go and the mayor, respectively for a day, while Victorio Afalla takes over the Sangguniang Panlungsod affairs from Vice-Mayor Edison Bilog.
Afalla presides over the senior citizen council composed of Alfredo Palado, Ruby Agpawa, Felix Bentayen, Emilia Jarata, Erlinda Bueno and retired librarian Namnama Lopez, for the Public Utilities and Transportation; Social Services, Women and Urban Poor; Urban Planning, Lands and Housing, Special Event, Parks and Playgrounds; Education, Culture and Historical Research, and Laws committees, respectively.
Senior citizen councilors Eduardo Reyes, Eliseo Baldovino, Pacita Resurreccion, Luz Abella, Alexander Wasian and Antonino Cortes takes over committee chairmanship of Market, Trade and Commerce, Agriculture; Employment, Cooperatives and Persons with Disability, Health and Sanitation, Ecology; Employees and Government Affairs, Public Works; and Barangay affairs, respectively.
The senior citizen councilors present proposed resolutions and ordinances crafted after observing legislative procedure in the council, as to their committee chairmanship. This is in consonance with the AO issued where the senior citizens “administer the transaction of the local government with utmost dedication to the service.”
The senior citizens were screened by their respective association head; Isaias Barongan, Edita Ibarra, Eduardo Gamayon, Gerry Mecos, Federico Balanag; in coordination with CSWD Officer Betty Fangasan.
The activity is anchored on Republic Act 9994, which mandates additional benefits and privileges to Senior Citizens; and Proclamation 470, (series of 1994) designating the first week of October as Filipino elderly week.
Senior citizen activities would honor the active participation and contribution of the elderly in nation building, the republic act stated.
In city hall, senior citizens handle executive functions, such as department head and assistant department heads, for a day.
In the regional level, Senior Citizen Official Cristina de la Cruz is in-charge of the Department of Agriculture (DA), Loreta Umali, National Nutrition Council (NNC); Social Security System (SSS), Margaret Tolero; Cynthia Feliciano, Philippine Information Agency (PIA).
Clarita Climacosa takes over the head of Bureau of Immigration (BI)Baguio office; Benjamin Tiago, Commission on Election (COMELEC-CAR); Cristino Sacayanan, COMELEC Baguio City Office; Celesta Besitan, Civil Service Commission (CSC– CAR); Regina Mangangey, Department of Environment (DENR-CAR).
Andrew Sagandoy Sr. unseats Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) head for a day, as with Jesus Luzadas, Mines and Geo-Sciences Board (MGB); Leonora Safoket, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG); Jaime Martin, Department of Transportation (DoTr); Erlinda Balmocena, Department of Tourism (DOT);
James Gomez, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH-district office); Herminia Pascua, DPWH-CAR; Cynthia Taguiba, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD); Rosvinda Orig, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI); Maria Taguday, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI); Cristina Estipona, Philhealth city; and Benita Makil, Philhealth – CAR. With a report from Julie Fianza