The workers at the center, including Title V or those employed under the Senior Community Employment Services Program will start reporting for work at 8:30 a.m. instead of 7:30 a.m.
And like other government offices, the center will not be opened every Friday.
This was announced by Rose Mondala, the Office on Aging director, yesterday morning during a meeting with the congregates, according to Saipan Senior Advisory Council president Teresita Sorroza.
She said she and the other senior citizens were “disappointed” to hear the news.
“Our time here is very vital. We come here to associate with one another and sharpen our mind with productive activities,” she added.
Due to the new schedule, she said the manamko’ may have to spend less than two hours on their different educational, physical and social activities at the center.
Mondala was not available for comment yesterday.
Maria Salinas, the council vice chairwoman, said the new schedule “is bad for the manamko’.”
“We are looking forward to more activities and association with one another because this is a healthy attitude which we need,” she said.
Sorroza said the council will meet this week and discuss ways to address their concerns.
Last week, the council requested the governor’s office to exempt the center from the austerity measures.
Sorroza said their request was denied.
Jess Pangelinan, a former president of the council, said the directive shows that the “administration is inconsiderate and has no compassion.”
“They don’t understand that many of us are living alone. We depend so much on the center,” he said.
What the administration did, he said, was a violation of the recently approved four-year State Plan on Aging.
Under the state plan, he added, the center should be open five days a week.
“They should give us the right reason why they included the center from the budget cuts when this is federally funded,” he said.
Pangelinan said he will seek justice and will never give up.
“Depriving the manamko’ of their breakfast is terrible,” he added.
