BONTOC, Mountain Province – Eight barangay senior citizen associations in this capital town were awarded cash incentives and Certificates of Recognition as best performing barangay senior citizen associations on October 5, 2020, at the Bontoc Municipal Capitol grounds.
Barangays Malicgong, Tocucan, Caluttit, and Poblacion all got a score of 88.75 percent, making them all first placers. The 2nd place went to Barangay Bontoc Ili with a score of 86.5 percent. Barangays Guina-ang, Mainit, and Caneo were adjudged third place with a score of 82.75 percent.
The Senior Citizens Incentive and Awards Program which forms part of the Senior Citizens Code of Bontoc aimed to recognize the best performing barangay senior citizen associations.
The selection covers the projects, programs, and activities of the barangay senior citizen associations from October 2019 to October 2020. The criteria for selection include projects or programs undertaken for the welfare and benefit of the members and the community; interaction and involvement with the LGUs, national government agencies and private sector; clear and established policies in the government or management of the organization; and other criteria approved or deemed necessary by the committee. Initially, a plaque or certificate and a cash incentive of P10, 000 shall be awarded to the 1st place, P7, 000 for the 2nd place and P5, 000 for the 3rd Place.
However, considering that four barangay senior citizens tied for the 1st place while three barangays tied for 3rd place, the Municipal Senior Citizens Committee decided on how to settle the cash prizes to be received by the winners.
Municipal Senior Citizens Federation President, Atty. Florence Taguiba who is also the Chairperson of the Board of Directors (BOD) of the All Saints Credit Cooperative (ASCCO) proposed during a board meeting for the allocation of P50, 000 from its Community Development Fund as assistance to the elderly programs. This was approved by the BOD.
Thus, the ASCCO augmented the P22, 000 allocated by the Bontoc LGU purposely for the Senior Citizens Incentive and Awards Program. It was agreed upon by the Municipal Senior Citizens Committee that the four barangays that landed in first place shall receive P6, 000 each, the 2nd place shall receive P5, 000 and the three barangays that ranked in 3rd place shall receive P3, 000 each. Also, the snacks and lunch of the Senior Citizens Official for a Day (SCOFAD) on October 5, 2020, was sourced out from the P50, 000 provided by ASCCO.
Apart from these, the remaining amount shall be used for the Training on Waste Recycling to be participated in by two senior citizen representatives from each of the 16 barangays on October 20- 21, 2020. By Alpine L. Killa