SP okays incentives for Buguias senior officials

By Susan Aro

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- Incentives to senior citizens selected as officials for a day in the town of Buguias may soon be increased as the provincial board favored the passage of a  legislation.

The provincial board favorably reviewed the Buguias measure and adopted the report of the committee on Senior Citizens and Veterans Affairs chaired by Board Member Esteban Piok referred to the provincial finance committee.

As to the budget for increase in honoraria for Senior Citizens Official for a Day (SCOFAD), the members of the Provincial Finance Committee recommended that appropriation may be incorporated in the supplemental budget subject to budgeting, accounting and auditing rules.

The earlier Municipal Ordinance No. 2010-20 which authorizes the participation of senior citizens in their participation to SCOFAD, also  grants a uniform P1,000.00 cash incentive regardless of the post occupied.

The amended ordinance increases the honoraria depending on the SCOFAD position. For the mayoralty post,P3,000.00; vice mayor, P2,000.00; and councilor, Sangguniang Bayan Secretary, non-government organization representative, P1,500.00 each.

SCOFAD is held yearly every first Monday of October.

The amended measure authored by Buguias Councilor Rafael Palasi and co-authored by Councilor Pepito Bay-an find a reasonable increase in honoraria which must commensurate with the respective offices or post se

The measure is anchored on Republic Act 9257 recognizing the participation of senior citizens to nation building, grant benefits and special privileges for other purposes.