MAYOR Honey Lacuna urged all business establishments within the city of Manila to create more employment for the city’s residents who are senior citizens or persons with disability (PWDs) as she thanked those that have already given the said individuals the opportunity to work.
During a meeting with representatives from the popular pizza parlor Shakey’s, Lacuna expressed gratitude to the officers of the said establishment for partnering with the city in helping such sectors of the city by providing them with much-needed jobs.
At the same time, she asked them not only to continue doing so but moreso, to create more employment for the senior citizens and PWDs.
The lady mayor, joined by Vice Mayor Yul Servo, chief of staff Joshue Santiago and public employment service office (PESO) chief Fernan Bermejo, signed a memorandum of agreement with the said food establishment represented by human resource head Alex Merano, wherein it was agreed that in each of their ten branches in the city, they will employ at least one senior citizen and one PWD.
Lacuna said that the program providing jobs for the elderly and physically-challenged was begun by her predecessor, former Mayor Isko Moreno during the pre-pandemic period and was only stopped when COVID-19 struck.
As the new mayor, Lacuna said she is not only continuing the said program but even trying to improve on it.
Lacuna notes that many senior citizens are still very much able and willing to work even part-time, but that the employment situation and forced retirement in the country bars them from having gainful means.
She added that usually, the elder members of the household are relegated to being nannies for their grandchildren, although they can still ably function as workers in various fields of endeavor.
With establishments opening up their workforce admission to senior citizens and PWDs, Lacuna said their owners are helping these sectors become productive members of society and somehow provide for their own needs.
The salaries they get, though not that huge, she said, will definitely help augment their financial situation and purchase maintenance medicines.
Lacuna stressed that in Manila, equal opportunity is given to everyone as she expressed hope that other food chains will follow suit.
She said that senior citizens are particularly given a light load of work only and are made to undergo rigid requirements for their own protection, such as getting a cardio-pulmonary clearance prior to hiring. (Baby Cuevas)
