CLARK FREEPORT -- The Regional Federation of Senior Citizens Association of the Philippines in Central Luzon wants Governor Lilia Pineda either to join the senatorial race or run for a higher position in the 2016 local and national elections.
Retired Judge Ricardo Agapito, president of the regional federation told officers of senior citizens groups in Central Luzon during the first-ever Regional Senior Citizens' Congress held at Oxford Hotel in this Freeport to unite and give their full support in rallying behind the lady governor whatever higher position she would want to run for in 2016.
The retired judge is confident enough that Governor Pineda and Zambales Governor Hermogenes Ebdane are the ideal leaders who could highly represent Central Luzon in the national elections.
Agapito said Governor Pineda has a "big heart not just for the less fortunate but also for the elderly not only in Pampanga and Central Luzon but also in the entire country."
"Governor Pineda is a model governor who loves the marginalized and the elderly and one good example is that she gives importance to senior citizens’ remaining years and days of their lives by giving health benefits and services for more than what they expect," he said.
During the Regional Congress for Senior Citizens, Governor Pineda's best practices and programs for senior citizens reaped a big applause not just from the elderly delegates who came from Pampanga but also from Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac and Zambales and from the 14 cities of Central Luzon.
The elderly in the region highly appreciated the approval of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan and implementation of Ordinance 647 or the "Enactment of the Senior Citizens Code of the Province of Pampanga", which gave Governor Pineda the power and authority to give what is best for the elderly.
Under the said ordinance, senior citizens of Pampanga, specifically those aged 100 years and above, are to receive a cash incentive worth P100,000 in recognition of their invaluable contribution to the province’s success today.
Aside from this, the Capitol has allotted a P1,000 monthly pension for indigent senior citizens that are bedridden, for the purchase of their medicines and other needs.
The senior citizens are also given free access to senior citizens' wards in the 10 district and provincial hospitals of Pampanga free of charge.
Also, the provincial government grants burial assistance of not less than P5,000 for disadvantaged senior citizens.
Such benefits are facilitated through the Provincial Council for the Welfare and Protection of Senior Citizens chaired by Governor Pineda.
Ebdane also noted Pineda's dedication and concern for the elderly citizens of Pampanga and the whole Central Luzon.
According to Ebdane, the province of Zambales now holds regular medical missions providing free surgery for indigents as inspired by Governor Pineda’s consistent health programs. (Joel P. Mapiles/Pampanga PIO)