Our annual celebration for the month of the children and of the elderly has once again filled the air. In this time of the year, we tend to keep in touch with older members of our family and to our children as we give integrity to their presence in our respective family in sustaining life and in looking forward to their warm-whelmed contribution for the success of the whole family, and to the community as a whole.
As we celebrate this year’s Elderly month, with the theme “Ang nakakatanda ay yaman, Katuwang sa Pag-unlad ng Bayan, Pangalagaan Kanilang Kapakanan,” we remember the important roles laid before us to take care of our elders as we pay tribute to their contribution for giving us what we have now and being a role model to the children in becoming good citizens of the country.
Article XV, section IV of the Family Code of the Philippines stipulates that the “Family has the duty to care for its elderly members although the state may also do so through just programs of social security.
The arising number of the gray population connotes a definition that as the population continues to grow, our responsibility to respond efficiently and effectively on their needs are emergent. Dahil ang mga matatanda ay mahalagang bahagi pa rin ng komunidad, ang kanilang mga pangangailangan ay dapat bigyan ng kaukulang pansin at malalim na pang-intindi.
Our elders should experience a quality of life despite of the continuing challenges brought by the society that will affect them in a very infinitesimal way. We need to maintain the momentum of respect, love, and understanding as a way of giving character to their contribution to the society. Ang paggalang sa mga matatanda ay isa sa mga mahahalagang kaugaliang makakapagbigay ng inspirasyon sa pag-unawa ng kanilang kasalukuyang kalagayan. Ang mga isyu na hinaharap ng mga matatanda ay malawak at magkakaugnay. Bukod sa pensyon, at mga pangangailangang pinansiyal, mahalagang bagay rin sa kanila ang kalusugan at ang pagkakaroon ng tagapangalaga.
In Caraga, the DSWD Regional Social Pension Unit (RSPU) has been so sensible in addressing the concerns of our Social Pensioners. The Social Pension, a government cash assistance in the amount of five hundred pesos (php 500.00) monthly stipend to indigent Filipino Senior Citizens aimed to augment for the daily subsistence and medical needs of the latter. To note, the program has disbursed two hundred forty – seven million, eight hundred eighty – two thousand pesos ( Php 247,882,000.00) since 2011 up to the 3rd quarter of 2014. For this year, the field office Caraga targets 18,923 beneficiaries of which budget allocation amounts to one hundred thirteen million five hundred thirty – eight pesos ( Php 113, 538.00).This continuous action in helping indigent Elderly Filipinos remains a challenge to us all.
Ang mga matatanda ay hindi dapat tingnan bilang pabigat sa komunidad, sa halip ay maaari pa rin silang maging kapaki-pakinabang na mamamayan kahit sa pinakasimpleng paraan. Kailangang bigyang pansin ang mga programa at patakaran ng pamahalaan na mahalagang makakatulong sa kabuhayan ng mga matatanda, kinakailangang malaman at maintindihan ng maayos ang kanilang kalagayan at mga isyung kanilang kinakaharap.
Cognizant of the important role of older persons in nation building, the DSWD through Presidential Proclamation No. 470 mandates the annual celebration of Elderly Filipino Week or Linggo ng Nakatatandang Filipino. It is in this regard, that the Elderly Month is monitored and always given attention by various concerned agencies due to the impact that elders have given to the community.
May we have a wonderful celebration for the month of the elders. May this become an inspiration to us all for us to grow and continue to move forward despite and in spite of the struggles in our every community.
Along this celebration, I would like to take advantage of this opportunity to make respect, peace, understanding, and love viral to every one of us. May this message also become an epidemic to everybody as we take part and lead in advocating the rights of the elders.
Once again, I wish for the success of our endeavor and let us continue to provide excellent service to our DEAR CLIENTELE.
MINDA B. BRIGOLI, CESO III
