ILOILO – The provincial government’s Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) has recognized Pavia as the “Most Senior Citizen-Friendly Municipality” in Iloilo.
The awarding ceremony was held during the Elderly Filipino Week Culminating Activity on October 31, 2024, at the Casa Real de Iloilo Grand Social Hall. This year’s theme was “Senior Citizens – Building the Nation, Inspiring Generation.”
Mayor Laurence Anthony Gorriceta received the award, which included a plaque of recognition and a P50,000 cash prize, from PSWDO acting head Rani Melvi Cuarte; Technical Assistance Division Chief and Senior Citizen Focal Ann Rapunzel Ganzon; and Project Evaluation Officer II Ma. Theresa Comoda.
Pavia was cited initiatives supporting senior citizens. The municipality annually celebrates Senior Citizen’s Week with activities like the “Walk for Life” and “Pavia Sayaw for Senior Citizens”, a wellness dance event tailored for the elderly.
Additional support programs include providing assistive devices, an e-bike livelihood program for elderly trisikad drivers, and free eye check-up and eyeglasses.
Pototan and Santa Barbara towns were second and third places, respectively, with Pototan mayor Rafael Enrique Lazaro and Santa Barbara mayor Dennis Superficial accepting the honors for their municipalities. The top three municipalities received cash prizes: P50,000 for first place, P30,000 for second, and P20,000 for third.
Other finalists included Badiangan, Guimbal, Miag-ao, and Leganes.
Cuarte emphasized the strong support of Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. for senior citizen programs under his social justice agenda, MoRProGRes Iloilo. Last year, the governor allocated P10 million to recognize qualified octogenarians, nonagenarians, and centenarians across the province.
This year, an initial P3 million was disbursed in July for similar incentives, with an additional P7 million recently approved in the supplemental budget for 2024.
Provincial Administrator Raul Banias revealed that the provincial government is enhancing public health and hospital services to better address the needs of the elderly./PN
