CLARK FREEPORT—Knowing she will continue to pursue causes that concer them, the Regional Federation of Senior Citizens Associations of the Philippines in Central Luzon wants Pampanga Gov. Lilia “Nanay” Pineda either to join the senatorial race or run for another higher position in the 2016 local and national elections.
Retired Judge Ricardo Agapito, president of the regional federation, told the officers of senior-citizen groups in Central Luzon during the first-ever Regional Senior Citizens’ Congress held at Oxford Hotel in this freeport zone to unite and give their full support behind the lady governor when she runs for another elective position in 2016.
They believe Pineda will continue to wholly support older citizens in Central Luzon in whatever position they take.
The retired judge is confident enough that Pineda and Zambales Gov. Hermogenes Ebdane are the ideal leaders who could highly represent Central Luzon in the national elections.
Agapito said Pineda has a big heart not just for the less fortunate, but also for the elderlies not only in Pampanga, in Central Luzon but in the entire country.
“Governor Pineda is a model governor who loves the marginalized and the elderlies and one good example is that she gives importance to senior citizens’ remaining years and days of their lives through giving health benefits and services for more than what they expect,” he said.
During the Regional Congress for Senior Citizens, Pineda’s best practices and programs for senior citizens reaped a big applause not just from the elderly delegates who came from Pampanga but also from Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac and Zambales and from the 14 cities of Central Luzon.
The elderlies in the region highly appreciated the approval of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan and implementation of Ordinance 647, or the “Enactment of the Senior Citizens Code of the Province of Pampanga,” which gave Pineda the power and authority to give what is best for the elderlies.
Under said ordinance, senior citizens of Pampanga, specifically those aged 100 years and above, are to receive a cash incentive worth P100,000 in recognition of their invaluable contribution to the province’s success today.
Aside from this, the capitol has alloted a P1,000 monthly pension for indigent senior citizens that are bedridden, for the purchase of their medicines and other needs.
The senior citizens are also given free access or senior citizens ward in the 10 district and provincial hospitals of Pampanga free of charge.
Also, the provincial government grants burial assistance of not less than P5,000 for disadvantaged senior citizens.
Such benefits are facilitated through the Provincial Council for the Welfare and Protection of Senior Citizens chaired by Governor Pineda.
Governor Ebdane Jr. also noted Governor Pineda’s dedication and concern for the elderly citizens of Pampanga and the whole Central Luzon.
According to Ebdane, the province of Zambales now holds regular medical missions providing free surgery for indigents as inspired by Governor Pineda’s consistent health programs.
Image credits: Jun Jaso