By Alison Mae Fuentes
CNU Communication Intern

CEBU CITY (June 26, 2024) – A private organization composed of senior citizens continues to engage its members as a way to keep them active.

The Senior Citizens Open Organization Towards Effective Reform (SCOOTER) is keeping its members physically and mentally healthy through several activities it has organized.

SCOOTER vice president Norma Llaguno. | 📷 CNU Communication Intern Mekka Angela Ampil

Norma Llaguno, SCOOTER vice president, said her organization even came up with a “five-year plan” to help its members achieve this goal.

“I made an action plan and one of our objectives is to promote health and wellness and mental aid programs for our members to prevent elderly dementia,” she added.

Llaguno and her husband, SCOOTER president Rolando Llaguno, were guests of the Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs’ Sungkod ni Lolo ug Lola teleradyo program over Sugboanon Channel.

She said SCOOTER holds a free clinic and consultation for its members every month. The group last held a clinic on June 9.

The activity offers free medical consultation, discounted medicines and affordable medical laboratory services.

Llaguno said that SCOOTER also organizes socio-cultural activities for its members such as their yearly Lenten retreat.

“Wala namo problemaha among mga kauban and assured them that kami ra ang mo-shoulder sa expenses,” she added.

Medical Mission. An elderly woman avails of free medical consultation that SCOOTER offered during an activity in Talamban on October last year. | 📷 Kauswagan sa Talamban FB page

Llaguno said SCOOTER will also hold a workshop seminar for its members on June 29 which will tackle their rights as senior citizens.

SCOOTER collaborates with another non-government organization to organize the workshop seminar, she added.

Fighting dementia

Llaguno said her group has coming up with activities in order to help its members enjoy their lives as senior citizens and keep them active.

She even encouraged her members to remain active rather stay at home after retirement.

Members of SCOOTER after its general assembly in Talamban last year. | 📷 Kauswagan sa Talamban

“Ang pag retire is not the end of our road, dili na siya katapusan sa atong panaw, it is the beginning,” Llaguno said.

SCOOTER was organized in 2011 and is composed of 400 members from 22 out of the 80 barangays in the city.

It experienced a hiatus during the Covid-19 pandemic but was revived in 2023.

The organization is also registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission. | RMN / amf

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