Senior citizens ‘take over’ city, make ‘good laws’

By Julie G. Fianza

BAGUIO CITY – Senior Citizens for a Day (SCOFAD) took over the city government last week and proposed 28 resolutions and four ordinances which they deemed for the good of Baguio.

During the regular council session Monday afternoon, Vice-Mayor Daniel Farinas and members of the city council convened and declared that the SCOFAD take over the city government.

The SCOFAD councilors brought proposals to the regular council for action.

Albeit with humor and outright honesty,SCOFAD officials expressed dismay over their limited mobility on city streets due to closed pedestrian lanes, pedestrian overpasses and faded blue lanes.

Of the 32 proposals, six were about said lanes. One proposal requested re-opening of three pedestrian lanes along Session road, three for the re-painting of faded blue lanes to be used exclusively for persons with disabilities and senior citizens , one for the addition of senior citizen-friendly stairway or pedestrian below an overpass, and another, the feasibility of constructing a pedestrian underpass along Session road, exclusively for SCs.

The closure of three pedestrian lanes along Session road came after months of traffic experimentation which brought about objections as to inconveniences, specially of the elderly, when walking up and down the city’s main thoroughfare.

The proposal for the request to re-open the pedestrian lanes was authored by SCOFAD councilor Carlito Ballesteros.

Proposals about identifying appropriate places for blue lanes and refurbishing these with all-weather paint were also indications of the need of elders to use said on-street utilities.    The blue lanes have to regularly maintainedfor these to be visible both to users and motorists on the road, the SCOFAD noted.

As to able-bodied persons who use the blue lanes despite the overpasses provided, the SCOFAD insisted that policemen should see to that.

A resolution was also filed that city police chief Jesus Cambay strictly implement the discipline zone in the CBD and arrest jaywalkers or those using the blue lanes other than senior citizens.

The resolutions were filed by SCOFAD Councilors FelimonLongakit, Jr., Joseph Clemente, Eliseo Sarmiento, and VictorioAfalla.

On areas where overpasses are in place, the SCOFAD officials noted these should be senior citizen-friendly.

They said the space was not enough for a comfortable passage when they pass through these.

On Session road, SCOFAD Benigno Andam proposed a pedestrian underpass along that road, exclusively for SCs and PWDs, as this passage branches out to establishments which the elderly would need to visit regularly. Included here are physicians’ and medical facilities, offices, recreation and religious areas.

Varied as the experiences of the senior citizen aldermen, the SCOFAD proposals ranged from women and children welfare, transport and traffic management, public works and utilities, medical and dental services, environmental concerns, infrastructure, peace and order, technical education and concerns for the coming election.       

SCOFAD Clarita Climacosa in her resolution, urged PU Vs to give priority to senior citizens, pregnant women, women with toddlers and persons with disability when lining up for rides.

Some proposals were endorsed to Rep. Bernardo Vergara; like the request to amend or repeal the juvenile justice system law; recommendation for the  approval of House Bill 4365 to peg the minimum monthly pension of Social Security System retirees at P7,000;  and the increase of monthly allowance of indigent senior citizens from P500 to P1,000 as filed by SCOFAD Councilors FlorentinoAwingan, Eliseo Sarmiento and Carlito Ballesteros.

SCOFAD Rogelio Sison requested the Baguio Water District General manager to tap local officials in the conduct of periodical inspection and detection of illegal tapping and installation of water pipelines in their respective jurisdiction. 

SCOFAD Alejandro Quitoriano sought that the BWD be converted into a cooperative with the assistance of the Cooperatives Development Authority.

SCOFAD Ballesteros requested the Department of Public Works and Highways to study the possibility of having a flyover along Naguilian and Bokawkan road junction.  

SCOFAD Andam requested the creation of an independent group to monitor and ensure quality work of contractors doing infrastructure jobs, in coordination with the DPWH.

SCOFAD Councilor Rosa Rillera requested the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority to provide free basic computer literacy training for senior citizens in the city, to enable them to communicate with family members abroad through technology.

SCOFAD Councilor Juan Allibang requested for P6million of government funds to build a senior citizen multi-purpose building.

Concerned with the right of suffrage, SCOFAD Joseph Clemente, called on Baguio voters to register with the Commission on Elections.

SCOFAD Councilors Allibang and Sison proposed that small-scale mining groups plant trees in their vicinity, conduct silviculture treatment and surgery in trees in the city parks; while SCOFAD Councilor Afallarequested that malls, groceries and vendors provide incentives to consumers who bring recyclable bags when purchasing goods.

 SCOFAD Councilor Escosa proposed free dental services to elderly and indigent patients in the city

In consideration of children ages four to six who join city parades, SCOFAD councilor Eduardo Reyes proposed that City Administrator Carlos Canilao include in the guidelines of parade permits, the shortening of distances these children must walk.                        

SCOFAD Quitoriano also asked that Traffic and Transport Management Committee expedite approval of pending ordinances, as to decongestion of city roads and streets.

Other proposals which are expected to be acted upon by the regular council are for medical dental and optical missions to be conducted in the barangays, strengthening of clinics in public elementary and secondary schools, the prominent display in establishments of 20% discount and no 12% VAT for SCs, the allotment of Five Hundred Thousand Pesos for the improvement of the welcome arch at the junction of Naguilian and Quezon Hill road, funds in the amount of One Million Pesos and every year after for the rehabilitation of drug dependents, the implementation of urban forestry concept in the city’s regreening projects, the strict implementation of the truck ban ordinance, the SC discount from the Benguet Electric Cooperative as to the privilege card.