More than 50 senior citizens benefit monthly from Butuan City’s Geriacare
By Mariesh F. Celedeña
BUTUAN CITY (PIA) — “More than 50 senior citizens have availed of the 250 free physical therapy and rehabilitation sessions conducted monthly under the program geriacare,” said Christine P. Sabandal, public services officer II of the Butuan City Social Welfare and Development Department (CSWDD)-Office of the Senior Citizen Affairs (OSCA).
Sabandal shared the program on geriacare, a free health service for senior citizens pioneered nationwide by the city government of Butuan, during the Kapihan sa PIA at SM City Butuan on Oct. 1 as part of this year’s celebration of the Elderly Filipino Week.
“The city government of Butuan, through the CSWDD-OSCA, proudly takes the lead nationwide as the first to implement the Geriacare program, a flagship program dedicated to the health and well-being of the elderly sector, including the persons with disabilities (PWDs),” Sabandal added.
Under Geriacare, the CSWDD-OSCA provides free physical therapy and rehabilitation sessions, with the help of the dedicated and licensed physical therapists who continuously attend to the needs of the senior citizens.
The program seeks to promote healthy aging, alleviate physical pain, and improve mobility and independence among senior citizens. It also ensures the PWDs who need therapy and rehabilitation receive the same support and care.
Treatments include physical training and various therapeutic modalities, while rehabilitative or restorative care is extended to senior citizens suffering from musculoskeletal, neuromuscular, post-traumatic, and other related conditions.
According to Sabandal, to further extend their services, they also accept senior citizens from other LGUs with a minimal fee of P250 which is relatively lower than the fees in hospitals and rehabilitation centers.
To avail of their geriacare services, Sabandal shared that the senior citizen needs to first visit a rehabilitation medicine doctor or a physiatrist for appropriate treatment and bring their senior identification card. “They may visit Doctor Mary Joy Joyohoy-Rona or Doctor Renato Jose Villanueva for the check-up and treatment plan.”
Amonio Mondejar from Barangay Bading of this city shared his treatment journey that started in March 2025, scheduled every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday as recommended that he needed to undergo therapy sessions at CSWDD-OSCA.
“Since I began the sessions, my walking has improved, thanks to the help of my therapist and the guidance throughout our sessions. The facility at OSCA is truly helpful for elderly like me. This is a great government program, and I am grateful for the assistance they have given to me. I hope the geriacare program continues so that more people can benefit from it,” he said.
Through the program on Geriacare, Butuan City continues to champion the welfare of senior citizens by ensuring they have convenient access to health services, enabling them to live healthier, with more vigor and vitality, and dignified. (MFC, PIA Caraga)