For one day, the elderly officially occupied the positions of Governor, Vice Governor and Sangguniang Panlalawigan Members during Linggo ng Katandaang Filipino (Elderly Filipino Week).
The Senior Citizens Officials for a Day (SCOFAD) of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Province of Benguet for the year 2017 conducted their meeting on October 2, 2017 at the SP Session Hall with the theme: “Pagkilala sa Kakayahan, Ambag at Paglahok ng mga Nakatatanda sa Lipunan.” 14 notable resolutions were deliberated and given appropriate actions.
Juanita A. Villena, SCOFAD Vice Governor and presiding officer describes her experience as exciting and is thankful for the privilege to be the Vice Governor of the province for a day.
Eustacia D. Mayamnes, SCOFAD Board Member, left an advice for the incoming SCOFAD of 2018 that they should participate actively in the deliberations of resolutions and other legislative actions, they should voice-out their opinions without fear, for the betterment of senior citizens and for the province as a whole.
Florence B. Tingbaoen, the Vice Governor of the Province of Benguet congratulated and thanked the Senior Citizens Officials for a job well done in here message during the SCOFAD closing program, She pointed out the fact that the work done in the Sangguniang Panlalawigan is both joyful and at times difficult but knowing that it is done in the name of public service, makes it all worthwhile.
The SCOFAD officials and the public positions they took over were: Governor Javier B. Valdez, Vice Governor Villena and board members Violeta B. Deras, Adrew D. Labinio, Benigno B. Peg-ang, Mayamnes, Eleuterio W. Lomesio, Benia B. Juan, Amos S. Beta-a, Elmo P. Calixto, Paz A. Areno, Maximo P. Lambino, Angelita J. Camuyot, Jose Binay-an, and Gregorio T. Gomintong.
The nomination process for the officers was done in the Municipal Federation level selecting one nominee each except for the first two municipalities with the highest number of senior citizens who shall have two nominees each, summing up to 15 nominees to fill-out the position of Governor down to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Members.
The 15 nominees meet two weeks before they occupied their positions and elected among themselves who would occupy specific positions.
The Senior Citizens Officials For A Day (SCOFAD) in the provincial government of Benguet was created and made possible through Provincial Ordinance No. 04-93 entitled: “An Ordinance Enacting a Senior Citizens Officer for a Day and Appropriating Funds Thereof.” It was authored by then Board Member Aloysius G. Kato as he believes that they have much to say, they have much vision, and their own lives are their own best assets to assist our province toward directional visioning as well as policy directions.
The Office of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development (OPSWD) is mandated to coordinate the nomination and election process and to prepare the program during the day that they will occupy their respective positions. Elected SCOFAD officials cannot be re-elected again in the future in order to give equal opportunity for other Senior Citizens which are to be nominated in the succeeding years.
According to Alfredo M. Antonio in his research paper entitled “Filipino Senior Citizens Participation in Development,” this society’s elderly are never a burden to the people because they are the synthesis of what happened in the past and what is still happening now.
They reflect the kind of society that we have. Their contribution to development should not be underestimated. The generation of today might not know it but sooner or later, they too shall be joining their ranks and it would be a pity if only then they would realize the value of this society’s senior citizens.
By: Juanito Ulman
