The celebration of Elderly Filipino Week continues with a convergence of government services initiated by the National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC) and DSWD-7 at Cinema 7 of SM City Cebu on October 5, 2023.
In collaboration with local social welfare and development offices, some senior citizens from Cebu, Lapu-Lapu, Talisay, and Mandaue cities gathered to avail themselves of the services offered.
Representatives of the regional offices of NCSC and DSWD, the Bureau of Internal Revenue Region No. 13, and the Cebu City Social Welfare and Services opened the activity.
The convergence includes medical, dental, mental health, and nutrition consultations offered by the Cebu City Health Department, the Department of Health, and the Nutritionist Dietician’s Association of the Philippines.
During the activity, older persons were given maintenance medicines, vitamins, supplements, vaccines, and dental kits for free.
PhilHealth distributed registration forms and shared information about their new benefits package called Konsulta, a free medical consultation through accredited care providers.
BIR and DOLE offered their frontline services. BIR also turned over five wheelchairs to the LGU’s select recipients.
Meanwhile, DSWD-7 gave kits that contained a blanket, face towel, liniment oil, powdered milk, and water flask. The DSWD-7 Area Vocational Rehabilitation Center PWD trainees offered seated chair massage and nail care to pamper senior citizens.
Dr. Daisy C. Lor, Social Pension Program Focal Person of DSWD-7, shares that the convergence of services of all agencies brought the government closer to Filipino senior citizens. She said, the DSWD is thankful for the all-out support of agencies that responded to the call to converge in recognizing the elders by giving them the social services they need in one venue.
The DSWD-led Regional Inter-Agency Council for Older Persons (RIACOP), which has a stake in the welfare of older persons, expressed gratitude to SM Supermalls management for providing the venues for the Elderly Filipino week activities.
DSWD-7 recorded 150 senior citizens availed of the services in the convergence activity. ###
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