Eighty Bulakenyo centenarians were honored by the Bulacan Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) as it celebrated the 2022 Elderly Week and Recognition of Sentenaryong Bulakenyo (Bulacan centenarians) at the Balagtas Hall, Hiyas ng Bulacan Convention Center, in the City of Malolos, Bulacan on Monday, Oct. 10, 2022.
The centenarians received recognition, cash incentives, and bags of groceries from the Provincial Government of Bulacan (PGB) through the PSWDO via Zoom teleconferencing in line with the celebration of Filipino Elderly Week.
Citing PSWDO head Rowena Tiongson, Katrina Anne Balingit, Provincial Public Affairs Office (PPAO) chief explained that in accordance with Provincial Ordinance No. 55-2018; Section 3, the PGB grants cash incentive worth P10,000 and plaque of recognition to Bulakenyo centenarians every National Elderly Week celebration.
She said the event was themed “Older Persons: Resilience in Nation-Building (Katatagan ng Nakatatanda, Magtataguyod ng Kaunlaran)."
Balingit said Tiongson also conducted surprise visits to Bulakenyo centenarians to make sure that they are cared for by their families and to ensure that their needs, especially in health, are provided.
During the PSWDO Zoom Online teleconferencing last Thursday, Oct. 6, Commissioner Reymar R. Mansilungan of the National Commission of Senior Citizens talked about the challenges that senior citizens are facing and sought help from the local senior citizen officers to gather the data of their members.
Bulacan Governor Daniel R. Fernando congratulated the Bulakenyo centenarians and other senior citizens for being resilient despite all the challenges that the province has experienced and vowed to always support them.
Present during the program were Commissioner Rainier Cruz of National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC) - Luzon, and officers from the Office of Senior Citizens Affairs and Federation of Senior Citizens Associations of the Philippines-Bulacan Chapter.
In accordance with Presidential Proclamation No. 470, the first week of October every year is declared as “Linggo ng Katandaang Pilipino” (Elderly Filipino Week Celebration) signed by former President Fidel V. Ramos on September 26, 1994.