The Bacolod City Sangguniang Panlungsod passed an ordinance for the provision of maintenance medicine for hypertension and diabetes to indigent senior citizens on third and final reading on Wednesday, April 12.
This initiative aims to improve the health and well-being of the elderly in the community by providing them with access to necessary medication, Councilor Celia Flor said.
The ordinance was proposed by Flor, SP Committee on Senior Citizens and Veteran Affairs chairperson, with councilors Simplicia Distrito and Claudio Jesus Puentevella as co-proponents.
An initial budget of P4,000,000 will be allocated for the purchase of various maintenance medicines for hypertension and diabetes for eligible beneficiaries, Flor said.
Indigent senior citizens who are residents of Bacolod City for at least six months are eligible beneficiaries. To avail of the medication, they need to undergo a check-up by public health practitioners and receive a prescription. Afterward, they should enroll in the barangay, and then finally receive the medicines, she added.
Flor said since the budget for this year has already been allocated, the ordinance will possibly take effect next year or if the council files for a supplemental budget at the end of 2023.
The Bacolod City Council is committed to improving the quality of life of its senior citizens and this initiative is just one of the many programs that they are implementing to achieve this goal, she said.*