LA TRINIDAD, Benguet - Two towns crafted separate measures giving senior citizens privilege to act as officials for a day in the month of October in observance of Elderly Filipino Week.
This capital town enacted "La Trinidad SCOFAD", institutionalizing the senior citizens officer for a day (SCOFAD) while Kabayan municipality enacted an ordinance providing opportunity to senior citizens who have a vital role in nation building, to act as officials for a day.
As per definition, senior citizens are those are 60 years old and above.
In the La Trinidad ordinance, to qualify for the screening of the SCOFAD will be the Municipal Federation of Senior Citizens of the 16 barangays of this town.
They will be occupying the posts of mayor, vice mayor, council members and secretary to the municipal council.
Those selected for this town will be receiving an honorarium as incentive.
The measure as stated in the Kabayan Ordinance is intended to put value on the contribution, role and welfare of the elderly Filipinos and to extend to them opportunities and benefits that give flesh to existing policies.
This will further encourage the elderly to have an active role and participation and contribution to nation building.
In their twilight years, this will give them an opportunity to have a chance to run the affairs of the local government in their capacity as counterparts of elected officials even for a day.
Just like in La Trinidad, the members of the Federation of Senior Citizens from the 13 barangays are qualified as aspirants to mayoralty, vice mayoralty and council posts.
They will also be given an honorarium equivalent to one-day salary of the concerned officials.
The measures are in line with the "An Act to Maximize the Contribution of Senior Citizens to Nation Building, Grants, Benefits and Special Privileges and for other Purposes." (Susan C. Aro)