WITH the enactment into law of Republic Act No. 11350 creating a National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC), the elderly citizens of the country may expect more beneficial treatment.
Sponsored by Senator Juan Edgardo "Sonny" Angara, the law aims to provide the seniors or the elderly their needs simulating VIP treatment.
Angara says: Our beloved lolos, lolas, titos, titas, and for some, parents too, will now have a national government agency dedicated to their needs and concerns.
The good senator always aims signals that the welfare of senior citizens or "thunders" as millennials jokingly call them, is of utmost importance to the government.
It may be recalled that the elder Angara, the late Senate President Edgardo Angara, has long and consistently advocated for the rights of senior citizens. He was the author of Republic Act 7432 or the Senior Citizens Act of 1993 and his son is the author of RA 9944 or the Act Granting Additional Benefits and Privileges to Senior Citizens.
Earlier, the younger Angara has filed Senate Bill No. 133 which seeks the grant of a 100 percent increase in the social pension of seniors.
One question needs to be asked: Is the law being religiously implemented by LGUs?
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In Mabalacat City, about 14,000 seniors are registered of which majority of them receive their regular monthly pensions.
The Office for Senior Citizens Affairs or OSCA, headed by Engracia Dizon, attends to the concerns of the seniors and matters concerning them. I learned that they have transferred their office to Barangay Mabiga where they entertain the Mabalacat seniors.
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I was warmly accommodated at SM City Pampanga by Zandro Cordero and May Francisco when I visited last Monday, August 5, 2019. Acting through the instructions of Mall Manager Aaron Montenegro and VP Junias Eusebio, the duo promptly ordered us lunch at Mesa. Together with me were Ka Roger Tanglao and William "Mebungo" Reyes.
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The CCTV project of the Fiesta HOA moved as scheduled with the entry of Soft Touch Computer Shop (the only bidder which attended the selections process, by the way). Jay, its representative, presented to the BOD, the complete package of the CCTV, the costs and materials to be installed at the Fiesta premises.
VP Rod Monis also announced the holding of a Culinary Challenge, a two-day affair which also welcomes outside participants. Tickets will be sold at P100 per, including a Ms. Gay show.
Kaye Rozel Hernandez, HOA's president, also wants the stray dog project implemented immediately. She has made several SMS to this writer asking whom to approach regarding the impounding of stray dogs.