BONTOC, Mountain Province – The top three best performing barangay senior citizen associations in this capital town were awarded with cash incentives and certificates of recognition on October 7, 2024, at the Bontoc Municipal Capitol grounds.
A consistent awardee in past years, Barangay Tocucan emerged as the champion in the Search for Best Performing Barangay Senior Citizen Association 2024 with a score of 89.60% thus, bringing home a cash prize of PhP10,000.
Bontoc Ili Barangay Senior Citizen Association came in 2nd place with a cash incentive of PhP7,000 after garnering a score of 85%. Caluttit Barangay Senior Citizen Association landed in 3rd place and received PhP5,000 with a score of 83.60%.
Mayor Jerome “Chagsen” Tudlong, Jr., and Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officer Araceli Shane Bayanos handed the awards to the winners.
According to Bayanos, part of the Senior Citizens Code of Bontoc, Mountain Province is the Senior Citizens Incentive and Awards Program. This is to recognize the best performing barangay senior citizen associations by granting them incentives and awards.
Bayanos added that the program aims to encourage the elderly to plan and carry out activities for self-enhancement and community development; assist the elderly in availing of the benefits they are entitled to from government and non-government agencies, and other entities; recognize the efforts and participation of the senior citizen sector of the municipality.
For this year, 10 barangay senior citizen associations have submitted their entries. Focusing on the theme for this year’s Elderly Filipino Week, “Senior Citizens-Building the Nation, Inspiring Generations,” the criteria in the selection of winners include Stability of the Unit/ Functionality; Projects/ Activities Undertaken; and Environmental Concerns. Thus, aside from the top three winners, the other barangay senior citizen associations that submitted their entries include Alab Proper, Alab Oriente, Bayyo, Gonogon, Guina-ang, Mainit, and Maligcong.
The judges in the search were Sangguniang Bayan member Glenn Bacala, Assistant Municipal Agriculturist Catherine Agcon, Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Officer Roger Agcapen, Social Welfare Officer Stephanie Kanongkong, and Planning Development Officer Knittle Jane Lingbanan.
Meanwhile, it is stated in the Senior Citizens Code that any barangay unit which wins first place three consecutive times shall be disqualified from competing again in the same category for the succeeding year. However, the barangay unit shall be elevated to the “Hall of Fame” achievement with a corresponding Certificate of Recognition.
Mayor Tudlong expressed his happiness for the active participation of the barangay senior citizen associations in the search and hopes for full participation next year.
Further, the mayor conveyed his full pride that despite their age, the senior citizens in the municipality are very active in supporting and participating in the government’s programs and undertakings.
The Senior Citizens Code was sponsored by Viola Okko who chairs the Committee on Women, Children, Family, Social Services and Civil Society Organization, and co-sponsored by then Sangguniang Bayan member Alsannyster Patingan who chairs the Committee on Laws in 2019. By Alpine L. Killa-Malwagay