PHILIPPINES: Medical, Dental Checkup For Seniors Now A Regular Feature

ISABELA CITY, Basilan (Philippine Information Agency), October 10, 2007: A nationwide celebration of Filipino Elders marked the Senior Citizens Week with a theme: "Nakatatanda: Tanglaw ng Kabataan at Lipunan". The City Government of Isabela conducted a medical and dental check-up on October 4 at the City plaza where Mayor Cherrylyn Santos-Akbar said that service is one of the contributions of the City to senior citizens. The service might not be here at the plaza, we can have similar activity at the City Infirmary, with City Health Officers, she said. The City government also provided Senior Citizens with grocery items and financial assistance. The Senior Citizen Week was observed from October 1-7 with activities such as visits to the sick at home and hospital, Pasyal and Coronation of Queen of Nanay. The Isabela Senior Citizens Association (ISCA) was established in conformity to R.A. 7432, also known as "An Act To Maximize The Contribution Of Senior Citizen To Nation Building, Grant Benefits And Special Privileges And For Other Purposes" as further amended in the R.A. 9257, which provides for granting of additional benefits and privileges. Under the law, the Senior Citizen is entitled for free medical, dental, diagnostic and laboratory services in all government facilities and 20% discount in fare for domestic air, sea travel and public land transportation; purchase of medicine; and in hotels, cinema house and other establishments. This year, the City government of Isabela has allotted an annual budget of P300,000 for maintenance and operational expenses of the Office of the Senior Citizens Affair, traveling and capability building expenses and burial assistance to indigent Senior Citizens. Source: PIA - BASULTA.