Province to award most elderly-friendly LGUs

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

The provincial government of Iloilo is set to recognize the local government units (LGU) with the best programs and projects for the elderly in 2023 Search for Senior Citizen-Friendly Municipality.

The awarding ceremony is scheduled for Monday next week at the Days Hotel by Wyndham Iloilo.

Ann Rapunzel Ganzon, Division Chief for Technical Assistance of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO), announced that there are seven finalists out of the 42 towns and one component city in the province.

The finalists are the towns of Dingle, Concepcion, Lambunao, Pototan, Janiuay, Zarraga, and Leganes.

The PSWDO conducted the onsite validation of the finalists in October.

Onsite validators include representatives from the PSWDO, the Provincial Health Office, regional offices of the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Department of Interior and Local Government.

Criteria for the selection of the finalists and eventual winners include community participation, health and social services, protection measures, institution building, and the provision of a work and financial plan in the LGU’s programs and projects for the elderly.

The province has allocated P100,000 for the search, with the champion receiving P50,000, P30,000 for the first runner-up, and P20,000 for the second runner-up.

Ganzon expressed hope that the recognition would inspire other LGUS to prioritize the well-being of the senior citizens,

“This will serve as an inspiration to other towns to do good and to not forget their senior citizens. Kung lantawon ta, parehos man sa persons with disability, they consider themselves as the marginalized sector,” she said.

The last search for a senior citizen-friendly municipality was conducted in 2017.