Itogon senior citizens gathered at the Fianza Memorial Gymnasium on March 27, 2025, for their General Assembly, where they discussed essential guidelines and selected nominees for the new head of the Office of Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA).
During the general briefing, Mayor Bernard Waclin announced that all proposed programs for senior citizens had been approved and that more benefits were being processed. Committee Chairman on Social Services Norberto I Pacio warmly welcomed the senior citizens, followed by an introduction of attendees by Municipal Social Welfare & Development Officer Grace O. Pocsol.
Atty. Richard Aquisio from the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) explained the rights of senior citizens, including discounts, healthcare benefits, and the process of selecting OSCA Head under Republic Act No. 9994 (Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010).
In the nominee selection process for OSCA Head, senior citizens cast their votes, and the top three candidates were determined based on the highest number of votes received. The results are as follows:
Eddie Dunuan – 79 votes
Racquel Chavez – 49 votes
David Laguing – 42 votes
These three nominees will now be ranked accordingly, and the appointment of the OSCA Head will be made by the mayor.
The election was led by Vicente D. Puguon, president of the Federation of Itogon Senior Citizens Association (FISCA) and chair of the election committee. The three candidates introduced themselves and shared their plans before the selection took place. The selection was supervised by Puguon, along with Nena Liyo and Angelita Camuyot.
Outgoing OSCA Head Leopoldo C. Mendoza and Caroline Laita, representative of the outgoing FISCA President Maria Jimenez, gave farewell messages. Before the event ended, FISCA officers performed an intermission number, and attendees hoped for more programs to improve the lives of senior citizens.
WORDS | Shayne Ashley Sudiacal
PHOTOS | Jelly Rose Najava, BSU Interns
