A lawmaker has proposed the creation of Senior Citizens Technology and Livelihood Center in every barangay in the country to motivate and encourage the elderly to take part in the development of society.
Rep. Precious Hipolito-Castelo (2nd District, Quezon City) raised the proposal through House Bill 1347 which aims to maximize the efforts and contributions of senior citizens to nation-building.
“To honor the hard work of the senior citizens during their more productive years, we should upheld this opportunity for them to make the most of their role in national development. One of the ways would be to establish a technology and livelihood center where they can learn new skills that would open the doors of opportunity for their gainful employment. It is the very intent of this bill to in fact and in effect widen their base of participation as senior citizens in the nation’s economic development,” Hipolito-Castelo said.
The bill mandates the Department of Social Welfare and Development, in coordination with the local government units, to 1) set up a Senior Citizens Technology and Livelihood Center in every barangay nationwide, 2) establish technology and livelihood programs and 3) provide guidelines and working mechanisms fitted to the elderly.
Hipolito-Castelo said the funds needed to implement provisions of the Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act of the year following its enactment into law
Hipolito-Castelo cited in the bill’s explanatory note that the State is mandated to prioritize the needs of the underprivileged and the senior citizens. Thus, it shall establish technology and livelihood programs for the benefit of the elderly, their families, and the rest of the community, she said.