Aglipay to push Cebu as RP's 'retirement haven'

Former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief and now Philippine Retirement Authority chairman Edgardo Aglipay plans to make Cebu as the "retirement haven" of the country.

Aglipay made this announcement last Saturday during the Siloy Festival in Alcoy.

Alcoy if the first town that sent him a project proposal shortly after President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo declared the retirement industry as her administration's flagship program to buttress the government's bid for the Philippines to become the homestead of retirees all over the world.

Alcoy town mayor Antonio Plando invited Aglipay as guest speaker in last Saturday's fiesta celebration.

Impressed by how Cebu has greatly developed through the years, Aglipay has announced he wanted Cebu to be developed "as a retirement haven/ province."

He said Cebu does not only have pristine beaches and vast greenery, its cheerful and courteous people will entice retirees to settle here and that by word of mouth more and more elderly will come over.

Since a census in the US projected a one billion population of aging people from developed countries by 2015, Aglipay said they are targeting that at least one for every 1,000 of the aging population would settle here in the Philippines.

Aglipay is fostering a different concept of developing the country's retirement industry. That is by working on the idea of retirees coming over here and living in the very home of the doctors, nurses or caregivers that will be looking after them instead of the traditional practice where members of the medical profession work abroad to take care of the elderly.

Specifically, the retirement package for the aging population from other countries encompasses provision of retirement villages including health care service.

Aside from putting an end to the "brain drain," Aglipay said this convenient setup for our caregivers and medical practitioners will earn them $3,500 a month without having to leave their family and country. - Cristina C. Birondo