City plans birthday bash for senior citizens

THE City Social Welfare and Development (CSWD) is planning another unlikely privilege that will surely draw smiles to the graying population in the city.

A festive birthday bash has been mapped by the CWSD's Office of Senior Citizens Affairs (Osca) to promote rights and show sincere importance for the senior citizens in the city.

Teodoro Sabuga-a, CSWD chief, said the additional perk for senior citizens will be put into reality beginning January 2015.

The new privilege came after the programs of the Osca such as the new fast-lane ward for senior citizens at J.R. Borja General Hospital, eye and surgical care program, free cinema viewing, center for neglected senior citizens and burial assistance.

But Sabuga-a urged senior citizens in the city to renew their privilege cards.

"Due to some issues, we decided to make stricter implementation to all senior citizen cards and we encourage them to renew it before the year ends because we would no longer consider the old ones," Sabuga-a told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro.

He added that some controversies surround the program because of how one can easily avail of it.

In some instances, Sabuga-a noted the process of obtaining a senior citizen's privilege card by just presenting barangay certification to prove that the person is a resident of the city.

"Even those aged below 60 can avail of the card because you can easily fake documents," he said, adding they will be coordinating with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to check the identity of an applicant.

To those who have misconceptions of the privilege, Sabuga-a said that all senior citizens can avail themselves of the program regardless of one's affiliation.

But he warned beneficiaries to be wary of those who buy their free burial assistance fee for cheaper amount.

The Center for Neglected Citizens is now sheltering over 15 senior citizens, while burial fee can only be claimed by those directly related to the beneficiary.

“We will no longer allow third person to claim it to avoid further complaints,” Sabuga-a noted.

For the free viewing, each Monday, the senior citizens of Cagayan de Oro get to pick any movie at Ayala and Gaisano mall cinemas during the first screening, which falls around 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., depending on the movie.

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