All Seniors In Medellin To Receive ‘Halad’

“Dili lang indigent senior citizens kon dili ang tanang senior gyud ang makadawat og bugas ngari sa Medellin…”

These are the words of Cebu Vice-Governor Agnes Magpale during the Halad sa Gugma Alang ni Lolo ug Lola event in the Municipality of Medellin last February 26.

Medellin was given such favor after Capitol approved the resolution submitted by Vice-Mayor Alfonso Lim requesting all senior citizens to receive the rice packs from the government.

The Halad program will then benefit 4,500 senior citizens from 19 barangays of the town this April.

“Bulahan kaayo ang atong lungsod kay sa ubang lugar dili tanan ang matagaan. Pasalamat ta og dako kay Vice Gov nga maoy nangunay og hangyo sa Kapitolyo…” Medellin Mayor Ricardo Ramirez expressed.

In her speech, Magpale disclosed that if municipalities wish to accommodate all the senior citizens in their town then the Mayor would have to add to the supply given by Capitol.

“Priority sa budget sa gobyerno ang mga indigent seniors apan kay nihangyo man gyud si Mayor Ricky ug Vice Mayor Lim nga hatagan mong tanan, wa nako mobalibad,” she said then jokingly added “…unya di man sab ko gusto ma-Facebook, sugot na lang ko!”

Leticia Jumao-as, a resident of Brgy. Lamintak Sur expressed her joy over the good news. “Mapasalamaton kaayo mi nga gihatagan mi og chance nga makadawat ang tanan. Makalipay gyud!” the retired teacher said.

Meanwhile in the Municipality of Daanbantayan, 700 indigent senior citizens also received their three kilos of rice pack that day.

Bugasan sa Kababayen-an Project

Aside from the Halad program, both municipalities also received sacks of NFA rice as initial capital for the Bugasan sa Kababayen-an Project.

A memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the government was also signed wherein ten sacks of rice per barangay was allocated.

The said project is a way to enhance the entrepreneurial skills of the women in the barangay and to improve their economic status.

“Taronga ninyo og gamit ang maong capital ug kon mahimo i-apil ang tanang babaye sa inyong barangay,” Magpale adviced.

However, Governor Hilario P. Davide III was not able to attend the said events as he was committed to the distribution of pump boats and fishing gears event in Cordova.

By Renra Faith Sayon

www.cebu.gov.ph