Recognizing the value of their wisdom and lifelong experiences, Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada gathered on Friday more than 80 senior citizens, mostly retired professionals and long-time city residents, to help the city government wage war against drugs.
Estrada believes that by having the senior citizens go down to the barangays to speak about the evils of drug addiction, many people, especially the young ones, will listen and heed their advice.
“When our lolos and lolas preach, we really tend to listen because we respect them, we value their words, and we know that they care,” Estrada said. “For this reason, we have asked our elderly to become our partners in our drug prevention campaign.”
Estrada personally welcomed the first batch of more than 80 sexagenarians and septuagenarians who have volunteered to take part in a drug prevention and anti-illegal drugs training program led by the Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs.
Estrada said he is elated by the enthusiasm shown by the elderly in helping the city government fight drugs, a proof that despite their age and physical condition, they are still eager to play a big role in nation-building, especially in saving the new generation from illegal drugs.
“They have been our role models, they have done so much for the society, they should have been living a comfortable life after retirement, but they’re still here, willing to spend valuable time and effort to help their country, their city,” Estrada stressed.
After their training, the senior citizens will go down to different barangays and serve as resource speakers and trainers during the series of anti-drug dialogues with community residents, OSCA head Menie Reyes said.
“We are giving them enough knowledge and information so they would know the direction they need to take in helping fight drugs,” Reyes pointed out.
One of the senior citizens, Salvador Evangelista, a 75-year-old resident of Barangay 106 in District 1, said he volunteered to be part of the program because the illegal drug problem seemed to have worsened, unlike during his time, he said.
“Back then, when I came here in 1957, there were no drugs of any kind,” he recounted. “Times are different now.”
Former barangay chairman Guillen Mendoza, 82, of Barangay 745, Zone 81 in District 5, lauded the anti-drug training program so they will be able to guide and help drug dependents.
“Let’s give them another chance, another hope to change their lives. All they need is guidance, and most importantly, education,” Mendoza said.
