PIA Press Release
Friday, January 06, 2012 Kiangan seniors urge other elderly to avail privilegesby Dan B. CodamonKIANGAN, Ifugao, Jan. 6(PIA)-- Given the many privileges the government and its partners are providing to senior citizens in the country, an officer of the local Office of Senior Citizens Affair (OSCA) here is inviting those who are 60 years old and above to join the organization. OSCA Secretary Eugene Kindipan said 60 years old and above are eligible to register as senior citizen and become member to qualify for the many benefits that they can avail such as the 20% discount on transportation fare, in purchase of medicines, in big restaurants and in watching movies in theaters and 5% discount on electric bills, among others. These privileges are big help to the elderly especially that they are prone to illnesses and they need medicines, while the discounts in fares, restaurants and theaters help them to enjoy their twilight years. According to Kindipan, the Kiangan Federation of Senior Citizens Association (FSCA)has a total of 948 members composed of 357 male and 591 female, of which 27 have qualified as social pensioners being indigent senior citizens whose ages must be at least 77 years old and above under the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010 or Republic Act 9994. As social pensioners they have been receiving a monthly stipend of P500 since January 2011 when the Law took effect to help them in their daily subsistence. Meanwhile, Kindipan said the FSCA will be electing its new set of officers who will serve for one year. He shared that as part of his duty as OSCA secretary, he is tasked to maintain and update on a quarterly basis master list of the members, serve as general information and liaison for the senior citizens, report to the Mayor any individual, establishment, business entity or agency violating the Senior Citizens Law and assist the members in filing complaint against the violators. The senior citizens here are actively participating in programs and projects in the municipality.(JDP/ DBC-PIA CAR-Ifugao) | 
