SAMAL, Bataan — Distribution of free maintenance medicines and vitamins for senior citizens in 14 barangays here that started last July continued for the fourth month on Saturday, Oct. 1.
Vice Mayor Ronnie Ortiguerra led the distribution in barangays Sta. Lucia, Ibaba, and neighboring villages while Mayor Alex Acuzar headed the delivery in upland barangays like Gugo, Palili, and Imelda.
Members of the sangguniang bayan were divided into groups and assisted Ortiguerra and Acuzar.
The medicines were given to the beneficiaries house-to-house through the assistance of barangay health workers, barangay kagawads, and other officials.
Amparo Flores, 76, said the free medicines were of big help to the senior citizens. “Magandang tulong ang ibinibigay na ito ni Mayor Acuzar.”
Esconde
“Lahat ng mga senior citizens na may maintenance medicines sa 14 na barangay ng Samal ay binibigyan namin buwan-buwan,” Ortiguerra said.
BHWs said in Barangay Sta. Lucia alone, more than 300 senior citizens benefit from the program.
The vice mayor said that last July 2022, Mayor Acuzar shouldered personally from his own fund the purchase of maintenance medicines and vitamins and seeing the big help to senior citizens, they decided to continue the program.
Ortiguerra said the program was funded by the municipal government for P700,000 a month starting Aug. 1, 2022 until Dec. 31, 2022.
“Sa ating mga kababayan, nakikita natin ang programa ng ating punongbayan na talagang inuuna niya ang kapakanan ng ating mga kababayan at gustong-gusto niyang makatulong sa talagang walang-wala. Naniniwala ako na napakarami niyang programa at masusubaybayan ng ating mga kababayan ang kanyang mga plano dito sa bayan ng Samal,” Ortiguerra said.
