Malate, Manila – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Region IV – MiMaRoPa conducted its 6th Ulirang Nakatatanda Awarding (UNA) ceremony at Best Western Hotel, yesterday.
The UNA is an award-giving body initiated by DSWD MiMaRoPa to recognize the contribution of the senior citizen sector in advancing the welfare of the Filipino community. The four distinct categories in the competition are divided into sectors namely: Basic, Professional, Government and Group sector. The Department assures that the award recognizes contribution of the elderly belonging to different sectors of the community.
In his opening remark, Joel S. Mijares, Assistant Regional Director for Administration highlights the importance of the elderly in building the nation. “Hindi nawawalan ng katangi-tanging contribution ang ating mga nakatatandang sektor, sila ang huhubog sa mga susunod na henerasyon,” Mijares was quoted saying.
Protecting the senior citizen rights and privileges
“Isang adhikain din po ng aming ahensya na isulong ang karapatan ng mga nakatatanda,” said Purificacion Arriola, Head of the Protective Services Unit. She encourages the senior citizens to assert their rights to constituted privileges for the elderly.
Arsenia Dela Vega Bonquin, a mother of 15 from Calapan, Oriental Mindoro won the award for the Basic Sector Category. His contributions in helping build an office for the senior citizens in her community stood out as one of her accomplishments. On the other hand, a retired teacher from Romblon named Priscila Medran grabbed the win for the Professional Service Category. She was actively involved in the provision of food and medicine for the weak and sickly senior citizens in Romblon, and also pushed for building an Office of the Senior Citizen Affairs (OSCA) in her community.
This year’s theme “Ang Nakatatanda ay Yaman, Katuwang sa Pag-unlad ng Bayan, Pangalagaan Kanilang Kapakanan.” is a call to the Filipino community to protect the rights and privileges of the elderly. “The seniors are important foundation of the society; they share time and effort, in their own way they contribute, not only for the benefit of their fellow seniors, but the rest of their community, too,” said Mijares.
Mayor Jesus A. Valdez, of the municipality of Rizal Occidental Mindoro won the Professional services sector, while the Central Senior Citizens Sector bagged the top spot in Group category.
UNA is an annual event conducted by DSWD MiMaRoPa with the help of partner agencies such as the Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Education, Department of Tourism, Philippine Information Agency and the Department of Health.
