The Department of Social Welfare and Development recently conducted a Regional Convention for the Senior Citizens of CALABARZON Region which focused on encouraging senior citizens to be active and productive in their respective communities.

A total of 403 senior citizens from the different localities of the region attended the convention held in Batangas City under the theme “Healthy and Productive Aging Starts with Me.”

DSWD Undersecretary Luzviminda Ilagan, in her message to the participants of the convention, stressed the importance of keeping oneself healthy and active so as to prolong ones’ living. She also emphasized that senior citizens should not be contented on merely enjoying the discounts and other privileges accorded to them.  Instead, Usec Ilagan challenged each of the senior citizens to participate in community activities and be productive as much as possible and to also provide assistance to those who need support for their health, livelihood and other aspects of well-being

“Life begins at 70 kaya marami pa tayong maiaambag sa ating lipunan. Dapat sumasali pa tayo sa mga organization at maging active para madelay ang pagdating ng Alzheimer at Dementia and develop friendship and relationships,” USEC Ilagan said.

‘Healthy Seniors Are Productive Citizens’

During the convention, several sessions were also held to promote wellness among the senior citizens. Among these are the session about the “Ten Kumainments” and the “Pinggang Pinoy” which was conducted by Alistaire Matociños of the National Nutrition Council. 

Matociños stressed that having the right diet leads to a healthy body and minimizes the occurrence of common sickness.

Ms. Anne Marie Pineda of the Batangas Medical Center also shared the importance of mental health and how to reduce the risk of having dementia, especially since majority of the senior citizens are prone to acquire such illness.

The City Government of Batangas, through its Office of the Senior Citizen Affairs President  Amelia Maderazo, also shared during the convention the advantage of having a strong support from the local government unit in promoting the rights and welfare of their sector.

“Sa amin, ang tawag sa mga senior citizens ay ‘pangunahing mamamayan’ at katuwang ang aming LGU ay sinisikap namin na maimprove ang OSCA sa probinsiya namin,” Maderazo shared.

Among the projects being implemented in Batangas City which Maderazo proudly shared are the provision of scholarships to one grandchild of their members, provision of honorariums to their committees, provision of financial assistance to associations and or individuals in need, and distribution of health cards to all OSCA members in the city.

DSWD Assistant Secretary Jose Antonio Hernandez, for his part, reminded the senior citizens the important role that they play in the society today and even during their younger years. Assistant Secretary Hernandez challenged them to be continuously active and to continuously remind local officials to improve their delivery of basic services, especially to the sector.

“Pukawin natin at kulitin ang mga local government units, hindi lang po para sa inyo kundi para sa mga susunod pang henerasyon dahil hindi po porket retired na kayo ay tapos na kayo. You are important sa paghahabi ng bansang ito,” Assistant Secretary Hernandez said.***