AN 83-year-old man, who was a familiar face inside a church compound, was rescued by the Municipal Government of Sto. Tomas in Davao del Norte.
In a press release, the municipal government said the elderly man, identified as Arturo Orpiana, was found staying in a makeshift stage inside the compound of the San Miguel Parish church.
Carlo Jack Pino, executive assistant II and focal of the Dangpanan Ni Tomas (DNT) program, said they found Orpiana staying within the church compound
Netizens from Sto. Tomas expressed their concern on social media regarding Orpiana's situation and health condition, which prompted DNT and the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO) to take immediate action.
“Nag-dispatch dayon kita og nurse ug rescuers gikan sa Responder Ni Tomas para ma-check ug makuha si Mr. Orpiana para makabalo kita unsa iyahang (We dispatched our nurses and rescuers from Responder Ni Tomas to check and rescue Mr. Orpiana to know his) present health conditions,” Pino said.
On Tuesday, October 12, medical team and rescuers from Responder Ni Tomas, a pet emergency rescue program under the leadership and guidance of Municipal Administrator Atty. Elisa Evangelista-Lapina, quickly responded to the situation and fetched Orpiana from the church compound.
Orpiana was brought to the Municipal Health Office for medical check-up to assess his health condition.
Pino said that DNT and MSWDO had assisted the elderly Orpiana in the past but there’s a lingering family issue that is supposed to be sorted out within his family.
At present, Orpiana is staying at Balay Ni Tomas, a residential care facility under the MSWDO, where he is provided temporarily with meals, medicines, and clothing under the care of a social worker. (RGL)