The cooks at the center, including those on Rota and Tinian, will report for work at 7 a.m. so they can prepare the food for the 150 homebound manamko’, she said.
Before, the food was delivered by 9 a.m. but with the new schedule, the homebound manamko’ will get their meals from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., she added.
“This is something new for us but we have to serve the homebound,” she said.
The center will open at 8:30 a.m. and close at 4:30 p.m. The congregates will be picked up from their residences and are expected to arrive at the center from 9:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.
Mondala said she has to come early to the center to ensure its smooth operation and monitor the centers on Rota and Tinian.
After a week of implementing the new schedule, she said they will evaluate it and make some necessary adjustments if needed. Aging Office program coordinator Walter Manglona said senior citizens deserve to be treated like “kings and queens.”
The lack of government support will not hinder the Aging Office from pushing productive activities for the manamko’, he added.
He said the center continues to get donations from different non-government associations and business establishments.
Most of their equipment, including the billiard table and accessories, golf sets and computers, were either donated or purchased by the manamko’ through their fundraising programs, Manglona said.
