DUMAGUETE CITY, Oct. 1 (PNA) — The more than 13,000 senior citizens in Dumaguete City, the capital of Negros Oriental, have accepted the challenge of a former legislator for them to start a trust fund and leave a legacy that is something worthwhile to the community.
Former city councilor Samuel Dicen, a lawyer and who is also a senior citizen, issued the challenge during the opening activity of the celebration of Elderly Filipino Week in Dumaguete held at the city High School gymnasium.
He said it is not yet too late while in their twilight years to do something for themselves and the community to contribute P5 each per month, instead of depending on dole outs from the government.
Dicen has proposed the creation of a trust fund for all of them, the mechanics of which is so simple for senior citizens to spare P5 each during their respective monthly chapter meetings so they don’t have to spend for their fares in going to the Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs Office (OSCA) located at the Silliman University ball field.
The former city legislator said the contribution can be translated into a huge amount in ten years at approximately P7.8 million with more than 13,000-strong federation members.
While the money is held in trust, policies and programs must be in place so that the trust fund will be earning some more in addition to the continuous contribution of P5 monthly contribution by each member.
At present, only about 450 of the more than 13,000 senior citizens in Dumaguete are receiving monthly allowance of P500 each from the government, which is the only available allotment for the city, while the rest can only be listed in case of deaths.
The theme for this year’s celebration is “Igalang ang Nakakatanda at ang Kanilang Karapatan” with several activities lined up for the celebration up to next week.
Federation president George Villamor said the activities include a barangay assembly, a cultural show on Friday at the OSCA building, beach outing on Saturday, Tayada sa Plaza at the Quezon Park on Sunday, Bingo Socials for a cause on Monday, sports and physical fitness activities such as chess, dama, dart, tongue twister contest on Tuesday and a medical mission on Wednesday, Oct. 7, as the culminating activity.
Villamor has invited well- meaning citizens to do something for their senior citizens during the medical mission, in the form of donations maybe to include reading glasses, among others.
Meanwhile, senior citizens who are not members of the PhilHealth Insurance may now fill up application forms at the OSCA office.
Villamor has also announced that the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) has started releasing the one-time P10,000 additional benefit for 274,000 pensioners all over the country.
GSIS pensioners who will reach 90 to 94 years old will receive P20,000 during their birthdays, P30,000 for those who will reach 95-97 years old, P40,000 for pensioners who will reach 97-90 years old and P100,000 for pensioners who will reach 100 years old. (PNA)