THE Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office VI earlier today reminded the Ilonggos to take care of their elderly.

“A government facility for the senior citizens is the last recourse. Each family is expected to take care of their elderly,” said Rebecca P. Geamala, regional director of DSWD Field Office VI.

Geamala delivered this reminder during the opening of the training for the implementation of the Reporting System and Prevention Program for Elder Abuse Cases (RESPPEC) at MO2, Westown Hotel, Iloilo City.

Resppec is currently being piloted in Barangays Gines and Maribong in Lambunao, Iloilo. Lambunao was chosen to represent Western Visayas, one of the four regions in the country where the initiative was pilot-tested. Others are in Region 1, Region 11 and the National Capital Region.

Geamala’s reminder came in time as the country celebrates the Elderly Filipino Week with the theme, “Pagkilala sa Kakayahan, Ambag at Paglahok ng Nakatatanda sa Lipunan,” from October 1 to 7, 2017.

“We should stand firm against abuse and neglect of senior citizens. They have taken care of us all when we were young. It is time that we repay their goodness,” Geamala said.

Geamala said that older persons at times feel neglected and purposeless. Thus, Ilonggo families should look into the perspective of making them feel valued.

“Usually, a mother or father rushes towards home with a present for the children. But there is none for the elderly. We also have to think of them and make them feel important,” she said./dswd6/May R. Castillo