Davao City, January 18, 2024 – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office XI through Candelaria C. Tingson, Center Head of the Home for the Aged (HA), clarified some misconceptions on the admission of elderlies to its facility in a radio interview with RadyoMan Renz Barbarona of DXDC 621 RMN Davao on January 11, 2024.
“Mao na ang atong ginasangyaw pirmi ug gina-advocate kay dili man ingon-ana lang kadali nga kung gusto nimo isulod imong mga ginikanan diri kay dili ninyo kaya, naa baya siyay pamilya. Ginabalik baya nato sa pamilya ang usa ka tigulang. Priority lang nato ang katong mga tabangan gyud nga papuyoon sa center samtang ginapangita ilang mga pamilya, (We always stress that admitting parents here is not the solution to financial challenges. Our priority for center admission is only for those in urgent need of assistance, ensuring basic provisions while actively searching for their families),” explained Center Head Tingson.
She further emphasized that the facility has limited resources.
“Kay dili pod baya nato ma-serve tanang populasyon nato nga mga tigulang tungod kay naa tay limitations and concerns kay naa baya muadto sa atoa nga mismong mga pamilya mangutana kung pwede ba isulod ilang mga ginikanan, (We could not serve all our elderly due to our limitations especially those immediate families who wish to admit their parents),” added Tingson.
She then highlighted the Department’s goal of elders being with their families.
“Nindot gyud nga ma-belong sa pamilya ang usa ka tigulang kay kami gani sa gobyerno, among tumong nga iuli gyud sila sa ilang mga pamilya, (It’s good for an elderly person to be with their family, as our government aims to reunite them with their families),” she said.
To reunite the elderly with their families, the HA connects with the local government units where the elderly originate if the information is available. Social workers conduct sessions and validations for the potential families of the elderly. In 2023 alone, 16 elderlies were reunited with their families all over the region.
In her concluding remarks, Center Head Tingson stressed the importance of family, forgiveness, and taking care of our elderlies.
“Kami sa gobyerno gipasabot gyud namo kanila ang importansya sa aspeto sa pamilya, pagpasaylo, ug pag-atiman kay kung pila nalang man ang nabilin nga katuigan sa tigulang, nganong dili man nato sila hatagan sa pag-atiman sa nahabilin nga lugway sa ilang kinabuhi, (In the government, we make it clear to them the significance of family, forgiveness, and care. Considering the limited time left for the elderly, why not provide them with the attention they need in the remaining years of their lives?),” Tingson stated.
The HA of DSWD XI, located in Tagum City, is a haven for unattached, abandoned, neglected, and homeless older persons who are 60 years old and above. As of now, the facility has a bed capacity of 63 but is amenable to accepting new residents depending on the support of the local government unit that referred the client for admission. The HA of DSWD XI is just one of the community-based centers run by the agency to cater to marginalized sectors in society. (DSWD FO XI/EMCJr)
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