SENIOR Citizen Party-list and chair of Committee on Senior Citizens Rep. Rodolfo ‘Ompong’ Ordanes on Monday suggested to the Department of Social Welfare and Development the release in March or earlier this year the first six months (P6,000) of the 2024 indigent seniors’ stipend to the beneficiaries.
Ordanes, in a statement, said DSWD has confirmed the availability of around P49.8 billion for the whole year.
“March or earlier release would be ideal so that the indigent seniors can use their stipend to buy in advance the medicines and some other essentials they need. Para mas handa ang sila sa darating na sobrang mainit na summer months ngayong merong El Niño,” Ordanes said.
Ordanes also asked the Department of the Interior and Local Government to include in the El Niño measures the checking on the seniors, PWDs, and persons with comorbidities and special needs at the barangay levels.
“Maglabas sana ng direktiba ang DILG na itinatagubilin sa mga barangay ngayong panahon ng El Niño ang madalas na paglingap sa mga senior lalo na iyong mga walang kasama sa kani-kanilang mga tirahan,” he added.
During El Nino, seniors would be more vulnerable to dehydration, heat exhaustion, heat stroke, and medical emergencies, especially if they have lingering illnesses like hypertension, asthma, and diabetes.
The solon said there should be a “kumustahan system” the barangays can have so they can check on the condition of seniors.
“When temperatures soar from March to May, barangays should go house-to-house to tell seniors and other residents they should stay indoors and drink lots of safe water,” he said.
The solon added that the medical emergency response should not be limited to transporting patients to the nearest hospital.
First aid should be given to stabilize the patient before they are transported. This means barangay first responders should be capable of giving first aid. The barangay should train their tanods, barangay nutrition scholars, SK, and residents on first aid.
“Kailangang gawin ang first aid para hindi maging dead on arrival sa ospital ang mga pasyente. Madalas kasi namamatay ang pasyente papunta sa ospital dahil hindi nalapatan ng first aid kung saan siya natagpuang nakahandusay, naghihingalo, o agaw-buhay,” the solon concluded.
