OSCA pushes for senior citizens ward

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City’s Office of Senior Citizens Affairs hopes for the establishment of a senior citizens ward at the new Cebu City Medical Center, which is currently being reconstructed.

 â€œYes (I am hoping for a senior citizen’s ward) kay lisod kaayo ang kahimtang sa mga senior citizens (if a hospital does not have this kind of ward),” OSCA head Rolando Llaguno said.

Llaguno is reacting to the proposed ordinance of Councilor Gerardo Carillo “establishing a senior citizens ward for the indigent elderly or senior citizens who are also patients of CCMC and for other purposes.”

According to Llaguno, there was no senior citizens ward in the old CCMC before it was damaged by the 7.2-magnitude earthquake last year.

Llaguno said not all could understand the situation of a senior citizen especially those indigent elders who are suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.

In its regular session last Wednesday, the Council delayed the approval of the ordinance for one month due to its “prematurity.”

“The ordinance is still premature because the CCMC is yet to be built,” Councilor Nendell Hanz Abella said.

Councilor Alvin Dizon, for his part, said the ordinance is a good social legislation.

However, when Llaguno was asked if there is a need to have a senior citizens ward at the temporary CCMC at the office of the Bureau of Fire Protection, he said the space is not enough.

“Lisod kaayo ang kahimtang karon sa temporary CCMC. Wala na’y enough space,” he said.

The ordinance further seeks to provide free medicines and hospitalization to qualified senior citizens having an annual income below P60,000.

Llaguno said this would be very beneficial to the elderly, however, this would add another burden to the city government.

“The cash assistance for the senior citizens is already P720 million, naa pa’y (cash assistance) to solo parents. It would cost maybe around a billion. Asa man ang city mangita og annual income nga inana kadako? But maybe the city could manage (the amount if the ordinance will be approved),” the OSCA chief said.

Carillo, who also chairs the Council’s Committee on Social Services, said the Senior Citizen’s Council will be tasked to make the guidelines for the program.  (FREEMAN)