The Davao City Government, together with its partners, inaugurated on Monday the first-ever Senior Citizen Community Care Center in the city that will provide health care and wellness program, livelihood training, and access to various government services for senior citizens.
The facility is located on Block 3 Rojo-Aqua St., Dacoville Subdivision, Dumoy.
The ribbon cutting and soft launching was led by Acting Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte on behalf of the city government, together with Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) Head Lorenzo Borja, representatives from the National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC), and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
NCSC Davao Regional Director Cesar A. Adegue IV, PhD, CESE, said the facility will benefit senior citizens in the community by giving them access to essential services.
“Dinhi makapahimulos mo sa health care ug wellness programs, social and recreational na kalihukan, livelihood training, ug access sa lain-laing government programs (Here, you can benefit from health care and wellness programs, social and recreational activities, livelihood training, and access to various government programs),” Adegue said.
He added that the center is the first in Region XI, a proof that collaboration between legislation, the local government, and the community can result in projects that uplift the lives of senior citizens.
OSCA Head Lorenzo Borja said the office will directly partner with the NCSC in implementing programs for senior citizens. Aside from OSCA, the facility’s activities will also be supported by the DSWD and the CSWDO.
Acting Mayor Duterte expressed optimism that the new facility will improve the lives of seniors, whom he described as the foundation of communities. He encouraged them to take an active role in voicing out their needs and working with government agencies to address them.
“Kamo naga giya, dako inyong role sa komunidad, importante ma giyahan gyud Ninyo ang mga pamilya kadtong mga apo Ninyo ma pamilya nga mugiya mo nga naa moy mga partisipasyon sa ilahang kinabuhi aron naa sila pirmi sa direction sa kaayuhan ug kalinawan. (You are the guides, and you play a big role in the community. It is important that you guide families—especially your grandchildren’s families—so that they will know you are part of their lives, always leading them toward goodness and peace),” Duterte said.
“Mao gyud na ang importante gyud dili mawala ang gugma sa pamilya ug hugot nga pagtuo sa Ginoo. So mao na ang pangayuon nako karon nga responsibilidad Ninyo nga bilang active participants sa gobyerno. Kami nga naa sa gobyerno nga dili pa senior maghulat mi nga mahimong senior—kamoy plastar pud sa among kaugmaon nga mahimo siyang cycle nga magpadayon nga nindot ang atong pamaagi sa pag-atiman sa atong senior citizen sa atong dakbayan (That is the responsibility I am asking of you now, as active participants in government programs. For us in government who are not yet seniors, we will eventually become seniors too, and you are the ones who will help set the path for our future. This way, the cycle will continue, and we can keep improving how we care for our senior citizens in our city),” he added.
For inquiries about the services and programs offered at the center, Dabawenyos may contact OSCA at 241-1000 local 394. CIO
