Teresita R. Sorroza, the Senior Citizen Advisory Council president, “took over” as lt. governor on Tuesday, which was Manamko’ Takeover Day. She said she was able to convince Lt. Gov. Eloy S. Inos to grant the request of the senior citizens.
As “lt. governor,” Sorroza said she signed the memorandum to exempt the Office on Aging from the austerity Fridays for the remainder of fiscal year 2011, which ends on Sept. 30.
Sorroza said Inos “concurred” by also signing the memorandum which was addressed to the Department of Finance.
“I know I put the right person in the right place at the right time,” Aging Office Director Rose Mondala, said as she lauded Sorroza for her accomplishment.
Mondala was greeted with loud applause when she announced the good news to the senior citizens at the center yesterday.
Mondala said she will inform Department of Community and Cultural Affairs Secretary Melvin Faisao about the exemption.
“We have been constantly talking with the governor to help the manamko’. We persistently sent out letters asking for the exemption because our programs are federally funded,” she said.
Last month, Mondala was able to secure an approval from Inos to “waive” the austerity measures for 150 homebound senior citizens in May which is Older Americans Month.
