LAGAWE, IFUGAO- – Special attention indeed was given to the elderly sector in Lagawe early this year when about 50 members of the Poblacion South Senior Citizens Association (PSSCA) attended their general assembly meeting and elected a new set of officers.
“I assure everyone that I shall continuously work to help and assist our members,” Fortunato Tayaban told the ZigZag Weekly in an exclusive interview. Tayaban is the president-elect of the PSSCA.
“With the continued support of the Poblacion South Barangay and unwavering dedication of all our officers, we are confident that 2026 will be a year of growth and shared success,” he added.
Tayaban, a distinguished community leader, is likely to roll his sleeves and work very hard to achieve the goals of the PSSCA on Day 1 upon assuming leadership on July 1 of this year. He is expected to do so for the benefit of PSSCA members.
The PSSCA has 131 members and actively takes part in a number of municipal and provincial undertakings. Outgoing president is Evelyn Orizar. The president serves for three years only.
In this setting, officers and members have the ability to do what other barangay-based elderly organizations have to do with scarce resources. The barangay government provides meager funds to the PSSCA. And when the PSSCA and Poblacion South Barangay Council come together, some projects are completed.
Attendees of the activity had an idea on the difficulty of making both ends meet in order to implement a project or conduct an activity.
Yet, aged folks should gain practical knowledge and inspiration to make a positive impact on the task of nation-building. Likewise, they are in need of interactive activities that encourage love of God, country and flag.
Either way, there are many challenges.
As consumers, elderly folks became the hardest hit group by high inflation. What relief did the officialdom has to offer n this case? Hardly, none at all. And how do developments attest to the accuracy of this assertion?
In what ways the high cost of living is really affecting senior citizens? In terms of the value of the peso’s low purchasing power, going to a hospital is problematic. The same is true when buying medicines. Sky-high prices only make it impossible of even thinking about it. Uncertainty brought about by the hard economic times is for real.
Senior citizens here and elsewhere have a lot of problems. These folks are financially challenged to sustain their living and medical expenses. The full implementation of the law providing the health insurance for all senior citizens in the country is nowhere from pushing forward. Several business establishments are not honoring discount benefits of the elderly. At present, some of the benefits they receive are the 20-percent discount and VAT exemption on medicines, food, fares and even doctor’s fees and hospital bills. Many are experiencing discrimination to get a job despite still being able to work. Yet, there is no honest-to-goodness discussion of these key concerns at gatherings as this one.
Today’s situation will be improved with a better approach and mindset.
When it comes to the swearing-in rites by July of this year, it should no longer be business-as-usual for the incoming PSSCA administration. It’s time to have a guest speaker who shall share his insights on key concerns of the elderly, a speaker from the private sector who is articulate, intelligent and knowledgeable of issues of the day. Mr. Fortunato Tayaban should.
This is what “providing the elderly a life with dignity and purpose” is all about. The issue of empowering them is all about providing them assistance from the government since they are no longer employed due to age and illnesses.
Overall, it simply boils down to a resolve to face these challenges head-on. Yes, also a challenge to other PSSCA officers. They are Josie Bingit, vice president; Isabel Butic, secretary; Anabel Tingson, treasurer; Peter Tayaban, auditor; Flor Monsalod, public relations officer and Lea Bodod, business manager. **By Anthony A. Araos
