Senior citizens from all over Davao City were able to showcase their talents and skills during the culmination of the Elderly Week, which took place on October 3, 2023 at Peoples Park.
City Social Welfare and Development’s Social Welfare Operation Division head Epifania Sigayno, RSW, told the City Information Office on Wednesday that the activity on Tuesday gathered 1,016 organized senior citizen groups from the 14 CSWDO districts in Davao City – Marilog, Calinan, Baguio, Paquibato, Talomo A, Talomo B, Toril A, Toril B, City Poblacion A, City Poblacion B, Buhangin A, Buhangin B, Bunawan, Agdao and Paquibato.
“Successful ang activity, naa ta’y contest sa song solo, folk dance, chorale ug modern dance. Ginahimo ni nato para mapakita sa tibuok Philippines and Davao City nga existing atong senior citizens, able and capable pa gyud, kicking and alive (The activity was successful, we held contests on song solo, folk dance, chorale, and modern dance. We conducted this to show the whole Philippines and Davao City that our senior citizens are existing, able and capable, kicking and alive),” Sigayno said, adding that the event also helped seniors to exercise and socialize with other senior citizens.
Sigayno said that while the number of organized groups of seniors in the city is high, their office continues to organize senior citizens into groups for easy information dissemination for various programs for senior citizens.
“We have 1,016 organized groups in Davao City and dili sila ka elect og officers kung wala ang CSWDO. Importante ang pag organize sa group para ma update sila, labi na ‘tong gusto mu-avail sa mga services (We have 1,016
organized group in Davao City and they cannot elect officers if the CSWDO is not present. The formation of an organized group is important for them to get updates, especially those who seek to avail of services),” Sigayno said.
She added that for example, in the availment of the 1,500 annual subsidy, a senior citizen must belong to an organized group. It is also through that organized group that senior citizens will be listed for the payroll.
Sigayno said that payout announcements are also made within the organized groups.
Each month, overall presidents per district conduct monthly meetings for updating.
The remaining activities for senior citizens, in line with Elderly Filipino Week, are the validation for the Most Functional Organized Group of senior citizens. Within this month, the CSWDO endeavors to deliver face-to-face and house-to-house the Php 100,000 grant for 25 centenarians, a grant separate from that being awarded by the Department of Social Welfare and Development. CIO
