Basic computer lessons for seniors pushed

City officials requested the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT) to conduct basic computer operation seminars for senior citizens in the city.

Under Resolution No. 563, series of 2022, city legislators stated there is a need for the city government to ensure that nobody is left behind as it strives to bring efficient government services to the people, especially in the various remote communities.

During the Senior Citizens Official for a Day (SCOFAD) regular session held on October 17, 2022, the SOFAD Council Viola M. Aplosen requested the CSWDO, DOST and DICT to conduct basic computer operation seminars for senior citizens in the city.

Earlier, the city government and concerned government agencies had been working for efficient online and paperless transactions for government services in compliance with the pertinent provisions of Republic Act (RA) 11032, otherwise known as the Ease of Doing Business Act, which amended for the purpose RA 9485, the Anti-Red Tape Act of 2007 and other relevant laws or ordinances.

The council claimed that based on existing law and regulations, it is the duty of the family to take care of its elderly members while the State may design programs of social security for them. In addition to this, the State shall provide social justice in all phases of national development.

Further, Article XIII, Section 11 provides that the State shall adopt an integrated and comprehensive approach to health development that shall endeavor to make essential goods, health and other social services available to all the people at affordable cost. There shall be priority for the needs of the underprivileged, sick, elderly, disabled, women and children.

With the ongoing development and technology advancement, the body emphasized that more and more businesses, institutions, facilities, government agencies, among others, have been transitioning to online transactions such as online business transactions, online registration and online payments.

According to the council, most of the senior citizens are not computer-literate and have limited access to operate and study, or even familiarize themselves with the use of computers and the internet. – Dexter A. See