Paranaque fetes outstanding seniors; Olivarez bares new benefits

Parañaque City Mayor Edwin L. Olivarez said some 25,000 senior citizens who are enrolled in the city’s “OSCA Cares Program” will get additional benefits in the form of free laboratory examinations and medical checkups during their birthday months – which he said is better than just getting cakes – starting next year.

The local chief executive made the announcement during ceremonies honoring the city’s most outstanding senior citizens held at the SM Sucat Activity Center over the weekend, when more than 500 seniors who were in attendance were also treated to a night of classical music and traditional Filipiniana songs.

“We have included the appropriations for your additional benefits in our 2015 budget, which we will use to give our senior citizens free laboratory and medical examinations as our additional birthday gift to you,” the mayor said amidst cheers from the seniors. “This is like getting annual executive checkups instead of cakes for your birthday.”

Mayor Olivarez also said he expects enrolment in the city’s Office of Senior Citizen Affairs (OSCA) Cares Program to hit 25,000 by yearend. Enrolment in the program, which was launched early this year, entitles senior citizens to a Php500 birthday cash gift and another Php500 as a Christmas gift every year, as well as free movies within the city, among others.

The mayor spoke during Parañaque’s First Outstanding Senior Citizens Achievement Awards on Friday, October 10, to recognize the valuable contributions of senior citizens in society. The awards and the accompanying musical concert were part of the Senior Citizens’ Month celebrations led by the city’s OSCA under Officer-In-Charge Dante Pacheco.

The search for the awardees, which was conducted in the city’s 16 barangays, found 13 finalists who received plaques and gift products from the event’s corporate partner, the United Bayanihan Foundation of drug firm Unilab.

Out of the 13 finalists, five were named the Most Outstanding Senior Citizens of Parañaque City for 2014. They are Catalina Mirasol of Barangay Don Bosco; Dr. Edgar Caballero of Bgy. Merville; Ireneo Aquino of Bgy. Moonwalk; Dr. Ligaya Rodriguez of Bgy. San Antonio; and Carmelita Quirino of Bgy. Sun Valley.

The other finalists were Salvador Capili Jr. of Bgy. Baclaran; Marilyn Burgos of Bgy. Don Galo; Belen Sace of Bgy. San Dionisio; Belen Pereyra of Bgy. Sto. Niño; Remedios Nacis of Bgy. Vitalez; Hernan Juatas of Bgy. BF Homes; Antonio Arenas of Bgy. Marcelo Green; and Zenaida Jardenaso of Bgy. San Martin de Porres.