Carmen, Surigao del Sur Inaugurates First Senior Citizens Community Care Center in Caraga Region

In a historic milestone for the Caraga Region, the Municipality of Carmen proudly inaugurated the Senior Citizens Community Care Center (SC3C) on 03 July 2025. This pioneering initiative — the first of its kind in the region — was spearheaded by the National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC) in close partnership with the local government of Carmen.

Envisioned as a one-stop hub, the SC3C is dedicated to address the comprehensive needs and overall well-being of the senior citizens.

Dr. Mary Jean P. Loreche, Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer of the NCSC, in her message emphasized the power of unity, compassion, and purposeful collaboration in building a society that values and honors its elders. She also underscored the Commission’s national vision to institutionalize the establishment of SC3Cs in every municipality across the country.

Under the leadership of Commissioner Ida Yap-Patron, Commissioner-in-Charge for Davao and Caraga Regions, the realization of this groundbreaking project became possible through the collective efforts of various national and local partners. She encouraged the senior citizens of Carmen to take pride in the facility, protect it, and help it grow into a vibrant space for engagement and support.

Also present to grace the event was Lt. Gen. Ricardo Rainier G. Cruz III (Ret.), Commission Member IV, who extended his gratitude to all stakeholders, partner agencies, and community participants for their unwavering support and dedication.

Distinguished guests who delivered heartfelt messages of support included Carmen’s Municipal Mayor Nestor Valeroso, Vice Mayor Jane V. Plaza, and Provincial Administrator of Surigao del Sur John Vincent Pimentel. Each expressed their full support and commitment to champion the welfare of senior citizens and ensure that initiatives such as the SC3C continue to thrive. Their presence underscored the importance of local leadership in sustaining inclusive and people-centered development.

The event began with a symbolic “Walk for Life” led by Carmen’s dynamic senior citizen sector, a powerful expression of active aging and holistic wellness. It was followed by the ribbon-cutting ceremony, blessing, and ceremonial turn-over of the facility, attended by local officials, national agency representatives, and senior citizens.

A multi-agency caravan of services was also launched in collaboration with national government agencies, including the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), and Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD). These agencies provided immediate assistance in healthcare, wellness programs, livelihood training, and access to vital social services.

More than just a physical structure, the SC3C stands as a symbol of dignity, inclusion, and hope — a concrete testament to the power of collaboration and a shared aspiration to uplift the lives of our senior citizens. It marks a transformative step toward a more compassionate and inclusive future for the older persons not just in Carmen, but throughout the country.