President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Thursday commended Taguig City’s launch of its Center for the Elderly, saying the initiative complements the national government’s agenda of promoting inclusivity, fairness, and good governance.
“May you continue to support this administration’s development agenda and I wish that your pursuit to uplift the lives of our senior citizens will be emulated by other city and municipal governments in the country,” President Duterte said during the launch of Center for the Elderly in Taguig City.
“I hope that your local officials will carry on with the city’s banner of malasakit for the elderly even as they continue to sustain Taguig’s rapidly booming economy.”
The President appreciated the city’s commitment in ensuring that no constituent—regardless of gender, status, or age—will be left behind as Taguig City continues to grow and prosper.
Filipino senior citizens are close to his heart, the President said, not only because he is a part of the sector, but especially because he understands the efforts they exerted during their productive years in order to give their children a better life.
It is a vulnerable sector, he stressed, underscoring that old people are integral members of the Filipino family and that they deserve utmost care and support after fruitful years of contributing to nation-building.
“Now is the time that we give back to them by letting them know how grateful we are for having them and by honoring their crucial role in our lives,” President Duterte said as he expressed his gratitude to Taguig City for organizing the program.
Recognizing the trials and tribulations that the senior citizens have endured, President Duterte said the state could give back to them by making their lives easier through accessible medical services, reliable financial assistance, and worthwhile recreational activities.
“These benefits will surely make them healthier and more productive as they endure old age. These will also be their source of strength and inspiration as they continue to enjoy their lives and share in our collective task of developing and nurturing our society,” he said.
The Taguig City Center for the Elderly is a five-floor building featuring a clinic, a conference room, a ballroom/gym, a dialysis center, a recreational center, and a movie theater. It was established to ensure the health and wellbeing of the city’s senior citizens. PND
