‘They stayed active even without an office. Now they have one’: Mayor Dagadag opens permanent building for Tanudan seniors

Banagao, Tanudan, Kalinga – Senior citizens in Tanudan now have a permanent office of their own following the inauguration of the municipality’s new Senior Citizens’ Building on June 8, a development described by local officials as a long-awaited step toward improving accessibility and support services for the elderly sector.

For years, senior citizens in Tanudan conducted meetings, programs, and transactions without a permanent office, often relying on borrowed spaces or temporary venues for their activities and coordination with government agencies.

During the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Mayor Jaedicke Rhoss Dagadag said the new facility forms part of the municipal government's continuing efforts to strengthen social services for vulnerable sectors.

Dagadag added that the project was made possible through a ₱1-million fund from the Department of Social Welfare and Development-Cordillera (DSWD-CAR) under the leadership of Regional Director Enrique H. Gascon Jr., with a counterpart fund provided by the Municipal Local Government Unit of Tanudan.

Dagadag also commended the dedication and active participation of the municipality’s senior citizens, noting that they continued to serve and engage in community activities despite not having a permanent office for many years.

“Maysa manen nga accomplishment tayo dayta and many more will follow… agpaspasalamat nak kenni DSWD RD ta nagited ti P1M nga nayon na ket naikkan met counterpart from the LGU. Mayat talaga ta addan ti permanent nga opisina dagitoy senior citizen tayo, tapnu haan dan piman nga agalis-alis. Nagaget dan piman uray awan opisina da, how much more nga addan ti naitakder para kanyada,” he said.

The newly inaugurated building will serve as the official office of the municipality’s senior citizens, providing them with a dedicated venue for meetings, program implementation, and coordination with government agencies.

Local officials said the facility will also make government services more accessible to the elderly while helping organize and strengthen programs intended for their welfare.

With the building now operational, senior citizens in Tanudan will no longer have to transfer from one location to another to conduct activities or access services, allowing them to gather and coordinate in a space specifically designed for their needs.