Angeles City opens first city operated home for aged
ANGELES CITY -– Mayor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin Jr. inaugurated Bale Pusu, the first city-operated home for the aged.
“No homeless senior citizens. No elderly will stay on the streets,” Mayor Lazatin said.
Lazatin, Pampanga First District Rep. Carmelo “Jon” Lazatin II, Vice Mayor Vicenta “Vicky” Vega-Cabigting, Lazatin’s chief adviser IC Calaguas, and Executive Assistant IV Reina Manuel led the short ceremony for the opening of Bale Pusu.
Bale Pusu, located in Barangay Sta. Teresita, will initially house eight to 12 homeless female senior citizens. It will have a receiving area, activity area, bedrooms, mess hall and kitchen. Locally-made dusters will also be provided to the grandmas, made by Angeleña designer Rosette Ramos-Biag and hired home-based mananahis under the Angeleño First livelihood program.
Doctors and health workers from the Rafael Lazatin Memorial Medical Center led by Dr. Froilan Canlas will conduct regular check-ups on the housed seniors.
Calaguas said Bale Pusu is a welcome development for the city, ensuring that no senior citizen will stay on the streets.
Meanwhile, Manuel explained that another building will be constructed that can house about 40 homeless senior citizens.
Mayor Lazatin came up with the solution of establishing the city’s home for the aged, considering that the city has enough budget due to difficulties in referrals, having a limited bed capacity.
“Mayor Lazatin said it is about time to have the city’s own home for the aged,” Calaguas said.
Calaguas and Manuel have been helping homeless senior citizens, referring them to institutions in their personal capacity.
The welfare of the elderly has been a priority of Mayor Lazatin, administering free vaccines against flu and pneumonia even before the pandemic.
