WHO SAYS that the elderly cannot operate an equipment?
The elderly group from Laua-an, Antique who form members of the Office of Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) recently received P700,000-worth of equipment and facilities from Bottom-up Budgeting project of the national government through the DSWD.
Led by Guadalupe Juayno, Office of Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) chairperson, the group received a photocopying machine, computer set, LCD projector, digital camera, DVD player, a television set, sofa, electric fan, Blood Pressure apparatus, wheelchairs, flashlights, among others, which fully equipped their Senior Citizens center located in the town’s Poblacion area.
“The equipment and facilities are actually rewards of the Bottom-up Budgeting process. The actual project is the paradigm shift among the people of Laua-an, particularly the senior citizens who identified their need, planned and executed the solution to their problem. Now, you don’t just have a fully-equipped senior citizen center but you also know that in you is the power to make positive changes in your locality,” said Pacita Sareno of DSWD Central Office.
BUB is an approach to the preparation of the agency budget proposals, taking into consideration the development needs of the cities and municipalities as identified by their respective local poverty reduction action plans that are formulated with the strong participation of basic sector organizations and other civil society organizations.
This strategy is implemented in pursuit of attaining the Philippine Development Plan’s goal of inclusive growth and poverty reduction and promoting good governance at the local level.
BUB is jointly implemented by the national government in partnership with the LGUs, specifically the Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Budget and Management, National Anti-Poverty Commission, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Health, Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Education, Department of Labor and Employment, DSWD, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Tourism, National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), National Irrigation Authority, National Commission on Indigenous People Technical Educations Skills Development Authority, Department of Energy and National Electrification Administration.

PROMISE
Mayor Francisco Baladjay, Jr. expressed his gratefulness for the assistance but also told the senior citizens to ensure that the equipment and facilities are well-maintained.
“Thank you DSWD and the national government as a whole for the assistance. We call on our beloved elderly to take good care of the equipment and facilities so that those who will become senior citizens can also use these in the future,”said Baladjay.
Juayno, for her part, promised that they will do their best to protect and main the equipment and facilities./dswd6/May Grecia-Rago