The local government here has developed a project that could give senior citizens a sense of purpose even after they retire from the workforce.
Special Assistant to the Mayor, Maria Mathilde Treñas, said the city government would introduce “Project Uswag para sa mga Katigulangan,” a livelihood project to teach senior citizens arts and crafts for sustainable income-generating activities.
“We want them to come together when they have nothing to do. Some members of their family go to school or work so they get easily bored; they could easily become depressed. But if we have this activity, they will look forward to productively spending time with their fellow senior citizens,” Treñas said in an interview on Friday.
The pilot implementation of the project is set in Mandurriao and Arevalo districts, where the Technical Institute of Iloilo City will hold four-day training for one representative from each barangay that will cascade the learning back to their fellow senior citizens in their villages.
The representative from the 18 barangays of Mandurriao will train on rug weaving and potholder making in Barangay PHHC Block 22, Mandurriao, and 13 for the box file holders or desk organizer making out of recycled materials for Arevalo to undergo training in Barangay Sta. Filomena.
The barangays will have working kits for senior citizens to use while working in the center.
Each district will have a signature project they could display at the Office for Senior Citizen Affairs at the city hall and other trade fairs and exhibits.
“The sale of their products will provide their association with a source of income. On our part in the city government, we will provide personnel who will look after the Senior Citizens Center,” Treñas added.
The project would also allow the maximum utilization of senior citizen centers in the districts.
“Not only are they equipped with skills that could provide them financial benefits but also help maintain their cognitive function, have some fruitful pastime, mingle with others for social and emotional support, maintain mobility with less strenuous activities, and generally have something to look forward to enhancing their overall well-being,” Treñas said.
The city government is expected to fully implement the program next month. (PNA)
