Baguio Solon seeks community centers for city’s vulnerable sectors

Baguio City representative Mark Go has filed two bills that seek to build community and wellness centers for two of the city’s most vulnerable sectors.

Rep. Go filed House Bills (HB) 3922 and 3924, which seek to create a community center for differently-abled persons, and a wellness center for senior citizens, respectively.

Once passed, HB 3922 will establish a community center for differently-abled persons that will not only put a roof above their heads, but provide them with access to education and training programs that increase their livelihood and employment opportunities.

Rep. Go said that disability and poverty are often interrelated, as people with disabilities often suffer inequalities caused by unequal opportunities, discrimination, and social, political, and economic exclusion.

The lawmaker cited a study from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) that said differently-abled persons are among the poorest and most vulnerable, as they lack access to education, social protection, health care services, employment and livelihood opportunities, and face barriers in their environment and mobility.

“With the goal of ensuring their autonomy, self-sufficiency, dignity, and productivity, establishing a community shelter will aid persons differently abled as they prove that they are just as capable as persons not suffering from any disability to contribute to national growth and success,” Go said.

Meanwhile, HB 3924 aims to build a wellness center for senior citizens that provides living accommodations, healthcare access, and community initiatives that foster a sense of belonging and security while maintaining the well-being of the elderly.

Rep. Go said that while the Constitution maintains that the family is responsible for caring for their elderly, many Filipinos rely on their elderly family members for survival, such as their meager monthly pension or other economic means.

He also added that some senior citizens simply do not have family members who can support them in their advanced age.

“As the country continues to strive for sustainable and inclusive growth, our vulnerable sectors must not be left behind,” the lawmaker stated.