Retirement homes for senior citizens proposed

March 17, 2018 Opinion Sideglance

The establishment of a Senior Citizen’s Retirement Home in the City of Baguio will go a long way in realizing the mandate of Republic Act 9994 otherwise known as the “Expanded Senior Citizen’s Act of 2010, more particularly in sub-section (e) of Section 5 thereof which provides that, “The National Government shall include in its national shelter program the special housing needs of senior citizens, such as establishment of housing units for the elderly.”

Under the proposed ordinance introduced by City Councilor Lilia Fariñas the City Social Welfare and Development Office, the City planning and development Office, the City Buildings and Architecture Office, and other government or non-government agencies, for the possibility of establishing and consequently constructing a Senior Citizens Retirement Home at the area of the Social Development Center (Bahay Pag-Asa) at Balenben, Irisan, and if the request shall be deemed inappropriate, unfeasible or improbable, then another location shall be identified and the necessary changes and amendments will be applied accordingly.

As defined in the proposed ordinance, “a Senior Citizens Retirement Home which is sometimes called an old people’s home or old age home and is a multi-residence housing facility intended for the elderly. Typically, each person or couple in the home has an apartment style room or suite of rooms. Additional facilities are provided within the building. This can include facilities for meals, gatherings, recreation activities,a nd some form of health or hospice care. A retirement home differs from a nursing home primarily in the level of medical care given. A retirement home differs from a nursing home primarily in the level of medical care given. Retirement communities, unlike retirement homes, offer separate and autonomous homes for residents.

Relative to the proposal for a senior citizen retirement home, a proposed appropriation in the amount of five million pesos is requested for the construction of the said home and in the event that the amount would be insufficient the same amount shall be used as the Local Government counterpart pending a partnership with the Department of Social Welfare and Development Office-Cordillera Administrative Region to supplement for the lack of funds.

With respect to the suggested site for the said senior citizen retirement home councilor Fariñas pointed out in her proposal that the Social Development Center (Bahay Pag-asa) located at Balenben, Irisan may still have ample space that can accommodate the said retirement home and with the expert advice from the CSWDO, CPDO, CBAO and other concerned government agencies.

Finally, the said proposed piece of legislation will be tackled during the next regular session of the City and if approved on first reading shall be referred to the appropriate committee for further study and recommendation.