The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
By Mike G. Jamisola
The highly anticipated orientation cum consultation dialogue by senior citizens group leaders with National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC) finally took place here on Friday.
The event rolled off to a rousing start with an awe-inspiring inspiring message by Naga City Vice Mayor Cecilia Veluz de Asis that touched on the robust state of older persons in her area.
The funny and witty local executive made the otherwise serious and tensed meeting with her amusing anecdotes without missing important facts and details about the real state of the city’s elderly.
Naga City Mayor Nelson S. Legacion, who arrived later owing to an earlier commitment gave an inspirational talk and extended his thanks and praise to NCSC for reaching out to the elderly populace of Naga City.
Raising the bar of excitement, Northern Luzon Cluster Comm. Reymar Mansilungan shared to SC leaders with a brief summary of the NCSC’s history and programs for the welfare of the country’s elderly populace.
Mansilungan also explained the salient points of NCSC’s plans and programs including the laws and mandate that created the agency under the Office of the President.
Southern Luzon Cluster Comm. Rainier Cruz solidified the proceedings with his well-researched comparison via power point presentation of age-friendly cities in the 1st world countries and ours.
Comm. Cruz also shared vital inputs regarding the senior citizens rights and privileges, the 20% discounts and later gave an interview for GMA 7’s Bicol Region News Bureau about NCSC’s core programs for 12.3 million senior citizens all over the country.
Also present during the event were Councilor Jose C. Rañola, chairman of the Committee on Senior Citizens, host Jo Ann B. Zara, OSCA Program Director Jim Reblando PDO2 Sonia Lariosa, NCSC Focal Person for Northern Luzon Clustered Regions.