BAGUIO CITY – Senior citizens chosen from the elderly associations in the city, as coordinated by the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) handle executive and legislative matters this Monday after the flag-raising ceremonies.
In the administrative order issued by Mayor Mauricio Domogan, Rodolfo Abella and Juanita Gabaen would unseat Congressman Mark Go and the mayor, respectively, for a day, while Victorio Afalla takes over the Sangguniang Panlungsod affairs from Vice-Mayor Edison Bilog.
Afalla presides over the senior citizen council composed of Alfredo Palado, Ruby Agpawa, Felix Bentayen, Emilia Jarata, Erlinda Bueno and retired librarian Namnama Lopez, for the Public Utilities and Transportation; Social Services, Women and Urban Poor; Urban Planning, Lands and Housing, Special Event, Parks and Playgrounds; Education, Culture and Historical Research, and Laws committees, respectively.
Senior citizen councilors Eduardo Reyes, Eliseo Baldovino, Pacita Resurreccion, Luz Abella, Alexander Wasian and Antonino Cortes takes over committee chairmanship of Market, Trade and Commerce, Agriculture; Employment, Cooperatives and Persons with Disability, Health and Sanitation, Ecology; Employees and Government Affairs, Public Works; and Barangay affairs, respectively.
The senior citizen councilors will present proposed resolutions and ordinances crafted after observing legislative procedures in the council, as to their committee chairmanship. This is in consonance with the AO issued where the senior citizens “administer the transactions of the local government with utmost dedication to the service.”
The senior citizens were screened by their respective association heads– Isaias Barongan, Edita Ibarra, Eduardo Gamayon, Gerry Mecos, Federico Balanag; in coordination with CSWD Officer Betty Fangasan.
The activity is anchored on Republic Act 9994 which mandates additional benefits and privileges to Senior Citizens; and Proclamation 470, (series of 1994) designating the first week of October as Filipino elderly week.
Senior citizen activities would honor the active participation and contribution of the elderly in nation building, the republic act stated.
In City Hall, senior citizens will handle executive functions, such as department head and assistant department heads, for a day.
In the regional level, Senior Citizen Official Cristina de la Cruz will be in-charge of the Department of Agriculture (DA), Loreta Umali, National Nutrition Council (NNC); Social Security System (SSS), Margaret Tolero; Cynthia Feliciano, Philippine Information Agency (PIA).
Clarita Climacosa takes over the head of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) Baguio office; Benjamin Tiago, Commission on Election (COMELEC-CAR); Cristino Sacayanan, COMELEC Baguio City Office; Celesta Besitan, Civil Service Commission (CSC– CAR); Regina Mangangey, Department of Environment-(DENR-CAR).
Andrew Sagandoy Sr. unseats Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) head for a day, as with Jesus Luzadas, Mines and Geo-Sciences Board (MGB); Leonora Safoket, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG); Jaime Martin, Department of Transportation (DoTr); Erlinda Balmocena, Department of Tourism (DOT); James Gomez, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH-district office); Herminia Pascua, DPWH-CAR; Cynthia Taguiba, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD); Rosvinda Orig, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI); Maria Taguday, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI); Cristina Estipona, Philhealth – city; and Benita Makil, Philhealth – CAR.
All officials will function as the executives they will replace.** – juliegfianza
