On October 23, 2024, the National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC) launched the first-ever Senior Citizens Community Care Center (SC3C) in Mindanao, located in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon. This milestone facility is designed to provide a wide range of services tailored to the needs of senior citizens, from healthcare to livelihood support, offering them a place where they can receive care with dignity and maintain their independence.
Dr. Mary Jean P. Loreche, NCSC Officer-in-Charge and Commissioner Member IV, led the event alongside Commissioners Enriqueta Rodeles, Edwin Espejo, Retired Lt. Gen. Ricardo Rainer Cruz III, and Reymar Mansilungan. Their presence, along with that of local officials, including City Mayor Jay Warren Pabilaran, emphasized the collaborative effort to support the elderly community in Bukidnon.
Mayor Pabilaran expressed his gratitude for Malaybalay City being chosen as the location for the first SC3C in Mindanao. He noted that this facility will provide seniors with easier access to medical check-ups, wellness programs, and other essential services, eliminating the need for them to go to the City Health Office for basic health needs. He also called on other local government units (LGUs) to replicate this initiative, seeing it as a blueprint for senior care across the region.
The SC3C aims to be a hub where the elderly can participate in holistic health and wellness programs, social activities, and livelihood training. It represents a “whole-of-nation approach” that brings together various stakeholders committed to providing exceptional services to senior citizens.
In her message, Dr. Loreche highlighted the center’s vision of becoming a comprehensive service provider for the elderly, delivering programs that address their physical, emotional, and social needs. With its establishment, the NCSC aims to ensure that senior citizens in the region receive the care and attention they deserve, making Malaybalay a model for senior care services in Mindanao.
This project reflects the growing recognition of the need to support and empower the aging population, and the NCSC, along with local officials, has committed to continuing efforts to expand these services across the country.
As the first of its kind in Mindanao, the Senior Citizens Community Care Center in Malaybalay City marks the beginning of a new era of care for the elderly in the region, one where their needs are met in a compassionate and organized way.
