BAGUIO City Vice Mayor Edison Bilog files a resolution requesting Mayor Mauricio Domogan through the City Environment and Parks Management Office (Cepmo) to identify a portion at Burnham Park to be named as “Senior Citizens Garden” for the use of the elderly.
In his proposed resolution, the vice mayor stated that the City Government has received requests from different associations such as the Blessed Association of Retired Persons Foundation, Inc., (Barp), West Bayan Park Senior Citizens Organization, and the Slaughterhouse Senior Citizens Association, among others, for the establishment of a park intended for senior citizens.
The resolution further emphasized that based on Republic Act No. 9257 or better known as the “Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2003”, the state shall adopt an integrated and comprehensive approach to health and other social services available to all the people at affordable cost and there shall be priority for the needs of the underprivileged, sick, elderly, disabled, women and children.
Recognizing the major roles of the senior citizens not only in nation building but also as the primary role models of the youth, the said proposed resolution aims to give support to the improvement of the total well-being of the elderly and their full participation in society considering that senior citizens are an integral part of the country.
The city likewise needs to provide a venue where the elderly can relax in order to attain a more meaningful and productive ageing.
Burnham Park has served as the much-needed green park for the residents of Baguio as well as for the tourists, providing a peaceful and healthy environment through its wide open spaces.
As the most accessible park where senior citizens can improve not only their physical health but also their social and mental well-being, the proposed resolution therefore seeks to identify a portion of Burnham Park for that purpose.