In addition, about 100 congregates, or those who report everyday to the Aging Center, will be deprived of their daily medication and meals.
In his memorandum on Sept. 27, Gov. Benigno R. Fitial excluded the Aging Center from the list of essential government offices even though it is federally funded.
Protest
Yesterday, the manamko’ finalized their plan to hold a protest and express their sentiments on Capital Hill against the possible shutdown of the Aging Center if lawmakers fail to pass a new balanced budget before Oct. 1.
Teresita Sorroza, one of the senior citizens, had informed the government about the situation of the manamko’.
In a letter, Sorroza told the governor that if the services provided to them will be discontinued “our health and well-being will surely be jeopardized.”
“For some of us, the meals that the center provides are our livelihood. Those who are not as fortunate, who do not have an income and live alone depend solely on these meals as a source of survival,” she said.
Sorroza said the services provided by the center mean a great deal to them.
“If office hours are cut, services will be cut, and it will be the manamko’ who suffer,” she added.
Mila Garin, another senior citizen, said they will “fight all the way.”
“They might think that we are no longer in our right mind because we are manamko’ but they are wrong,” she said.
Elected officials regularly visit the center to express their support for senior citizen programs, Garin said.
Jess Pangelinan, a former official of the Saipan Senior Advisory Council, said there’s no justification to shut down the Aging Office which has funds to operate.
Variety was told that Aging Office’s subsidy from the CNMI government is for its eight employees — three on Saipan, another three on Rota and two from Tinian.
All other workers and services are funded by federal programs.
“They are holding us hostage in this situation,” Pangelinan said.
Saipan Senior Advisory Council’s Felix Flawau said he supported the planned rally on Capital Hill.
Late yesterday afternoon, Variety was informed that the governor might include the Aging Center on the “essential” list.
Department of Community and Cultural Affairs Secretary Melvin O. Faisao, in a letter, said federally funded employees will not be affected by the shutdown.
The Aging Center is under his department.
