DSWD Sec. Virginia Orogo greets centenarians Jose Lino Arguelles, Lolita Abasolo Ramos, Ambos Sola Man, during the National Respect for Centenarians Day as part of the Elderly Filipino Week celebration at the Quezon Memorial Circle.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development led this year’s Walk for Life, ushering in  the week-long celebration of Elderly Filipino Week last Sunday, September 30, at the Quezon Memorial Circle, which was participated in by more than 1,000 senior citizens from the 17 local government units in the National Capital Region.

DSWD was joined by the National Commission on Population(POPCOM), Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, Department of Finance, and partner non-government organizations, such as the Federation of Senior Citizens Association of the Philippines (FSCAP), Coalition of Services for the Elderly (COSE), and the Association of Department of Health Retired Employees (ADOHRE), among others.

Sec. Orogo (middle) signs the Memorandum of Agreement with POPCOM Executive Director Juan Antonio Perez (right) and FSCAP National President Romeo Alan Jr. (left). Also in photo are (standing) FSCAP- NCR Chapter President Jorge Banal and DSWD-Community Programs and Services Bureau Director Rosalie Dagulo.

The kick-off activity was highlighted by the Signing of the Memorandum of Agreement among DSWD, POPCOM and FSCAP to jointly undertake the program, “Si Lolo at Si Lola, Kabalikat sa Pagpaplano ng Pamilya,” and the recognition of centenarians.

Republic Act No. 10868, otherwise known as the “Centenarians Act of 2016” honors and grants additional benefits and privileges to Filipino centenarians.

“The government’s priority is to assist indigent senior citizens to make their lives more comfortable in their twilight years, since they have contributed a lot to nation building,” Sec. Orogo stated.

Participants from DSWD Central Office and Field Office NCR, together with some residents from GRACES, a residential facility for older persons managed by the Department, join the Walk for Life, ushering in the week-long celebration of Elderly Filipino Week.

This year’s theme, “Kilalanin at Parangalan: Tagasulong ng Karapatan ng Nakatatanda Tungo sa Lipunang Mapagkalinga,” is a take-off from the 2018 theme of the United Nations International Day for Older Persons (UNIDOP) which is a tribute to individuals, groups and older people around the world who dedicate their lives to championing older persons’ rights. ###