City eyes more facilities for seniors

CEBU, Philippines —  The Cebu City Council hopes to make Cebu City an elderly/senior citizen-friendly city starting by putting up a centralized senior citizen center, a park, and a better healthcare facility for them.

This came up following a privilege speech by Councilor Pastor Jun Alcover, chairman of the Senior Citizens Committee and the Senior Citizens Council.

In line with the Senior Citizens’ month, Alcover said he hopes they could come up with a notable project for seniors like him.

Alcover cited a landmark program that the Cebu City government could replicate, including the senior citizen’s park in Tagum City and the senior citizen center in Moalboal.

“The fact nga naa sila sa Tagum which is a very small city, kita diri wala hinuon… Ang sa Moalboal naa sila’y senior citizen center, although dili kompleto ang center sa Moalboal, pero they have their own center nga diin first time ni sa Cebu Province nga duna’y senior citizen center nga natukod sa munisipyo,” Alcover noted.

Although there has already been a so-called senior citizen’s park here fronting City Hall’s executive building, Alcover said it’s use cannot be maximized as there is a chapel on it

“Mas maayo siguro kung naa g’yud tay senior citizen center or park kay kini usa sa mga requirement para matawag atong siyudad sa Cebu nga senior ug elderly friendly-city sa World Health Organization,” Alcover added.

Apart from being a recreational park, Alcover also pushed for the establishment of a senior citizen center at the SRP or any other suitable place for educational, health, and social programs for seniors. Councilor Joy Pesquera supported the move saying this was something that the administration of Mayor Michael Rama had also envisioned.

A senior citizens center was already established before at the SRP, but disappeared when a development project was built there.

Vice Mayor Donaldo Hontiveros also shared that the Cebu City Sports Commission also presented a program that also includes wellness for the seniors and looks forward to setting up a meeting with Alcover and one of CCSC commissioners, Dr. Rhoel Dejano, to discuss more about a wellness program for the seniors.

Councilor Rey Gealon also pushed for the construction of a senior citizen hospital in the future to which fellow Councilor Philip Zafra agreed.

For the meantime though, Councilor Mary Ann Delos Santos suggested that with the Cebu City Medical Center not done yet, it’s more practical to have a geriatric ward under CCMC instead.

A geriatric ward is a specialized area dedicated to the elderly, to which other councilors also agreed. (CEBU NEWS)