Friday, October 20, 2006 Talk back: Problems of senior citizens By Dominico C. Moneva
THIS is a reaction to the news story titled “Only 40 of 132 Region 7 LGU’s set up senior citizens office” (Sun.Star Cebu, page A-11, Oct. 5, 2006).
RA 9257, which consolidated Senate Bill No. 2395 and House Bill No. 5987, was passed on Dec. 16, 2003 and approved by President Arroyo on Feb. 26, 2004.
More than two years after RA 9257 took effect, nobody in Cebu City was appointed to head the Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs (Osca).
Section 6 of RA 9257, states:
“There shall be established in all cities and municipalities an Osca to be headed by a senior citizen who shall be appointed by the mayor for a term of three years without reappointment from a list of three nominees of the sangguniang panglunsod or the sagguniang bayan. The head of the Osca shall be assisted by the City Social Welfare and Development Officer or the municipal social welfare and development officer, in coordination with the Social Welfare and Development Office.”
One of the vital functions of the Osca is found in Section 6 (g) which is, “to assist the senior citizens in filing complaints or charges against any establishment, institution, or agency refusing to comply with the privileges under RA 9257 before the Department of Justice of the provincial, city or municipal trial court.”
Where shall the registered members of Cebu City senior citizens seek assistance when there is nobody to turn to?
I am a member of Osca in Cebu City and I have gotten into arguments with drugstores.
How can I file a complaint when my pension cannot even make both ends meet?
Section 4 (a-m) of RA 9257 on privileges for senior citizens is only good on paper, unless government will rescue the senior citizens who are already in their sunset years.
Most of our expenses are already allotted for medicines and food supplements in order to live longer.
It seems to me that the present crop of younger men and women in government has neglected the welfare of the senior citizens, but our consolation is that whether they like it or not, they will follow us.
