MANILA, (PNA) — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Department of Health (DOH) led Monday morning a “Walk for Life” activity to highlight the kick-off celebration Elderly Week 2013 in SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City.
The walk participated in by almost 1,000 participating elders from different local government units (LGUs) in Metro Manila was conducted to promote also the health and wellness older persons according to DOH Assistant Secretary Eric Tayag.
“The event also aims to increase public awareness on the different. Issues concerning the older persons’ sector,” said DSWD Undersecretary Parisya Hashim Taradji who represented DSWD Secretary Corazon J. Soliman.
In a speech read by Undersecretary Taradji, the DSWD chief said that the walkathon was a working proof that elders, together with other supporting government agencies and concerned citizens will not stop in pushing for bringing positive results to issues that concerns the betterment of their welfare.
“Rest assured that DSWD is behind your back to advocate your welfare towards a caring society for all,” she said.
During the event, the SM group of companies announced that as part of the celebration about 260 senior citizens aged 60-70 were given opportunity to work as ushers or greeters in the food court.
According to Danny Chavez, SM malls chairman on committee on elders welfare, the hiring was part of the partnership of SM with DSWD and DOH that aims to make qualified elders productive despite of their old age.
Under the tie up, the hired senior citizens will be required to work as part time employees and will received P61.00 salary per hour for a period six months.
During the six-month period, the hired senior citizens will work every weekend or during Saturday and Sunday to complete 8 hours work (4 hours for Saturday and another 4 hours every Sunday) where they will be paid P488 every weekend totaling to almost P2,000 a month.
They will start to work on October 5.
Meanwhile, during the event, DOH Assistant Secretary Eric Tayag said that the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) also gives free coverage to retired senior citizens as part of continuous collaboration in bringing out programs that are fitted in promoting elder’s welfare.
Tayag, who graced the affair, reiterated the importance of good health and wellness of senior citizens so that they can continue to be economically viable as he enjoins them to follow him in dancing the zumba dance.
“Since our primary goal is to promote your health, let us all move to the tune of this dance,” he urged the participating senior citizens.