OFFICE on Aging Director Walter Manglona said they are in the process of upgrading the security system of the Manamko’ Center in Garapan by installing surveillance cameras, reinforced steel doors and heavy-duty locks.
The center was burglarized in June and lost many items used for its daily operations.
In response, elected officials, non-profit organizations and community members have made several donations to the manamko’ to replace the stolen items.
On behalf of the senior citizens, Manglona expressed his appreciation and gratitude to all the donors.
“I just want to send a big thank you to all community members,” he added. “We are very appreciative of the amount of love and care the community members have been showing the manamko’. Our manamko’ are very happy right now…and what we are going to do right now is to protect our assets,” Manglona said.
“We are now currently in communication with security firms to discuss upgrading our center’s security system, which should include surveillance cameras for monitoring and coordination with the Department of Public Safety. We are also requesting more police presence in the area,” Manglona said.
“We have installed heavy-duty new locks to our doors, and new barriers as well as steel doors. We are also going to tag the donated items, and we are going to do our best to protect our center so that incidents like this won’t happen again.”
As for the burglary incident, Manglona said the police are still investigating. “On our end we will do our best to protect the facility,” he reiterated. “I want to make sure that these donations that we received are kept and protected.”
Walter Manglona
