In Dededo, the mayor is speaking out about long-delayed repairs at the village’s senior center, one of the oldest facilities built back in the 80’s. With limited resources and funding, the mayor, his staff, and even a senior client had to step in to keep the center safe and accessible. 

"Our ADA door doesn’t work. So in the morning, when our manåmko’ come and also our volunteer staff, we’re literally out here opening the door for our manåmko’ so they can come in," stated Mayor Peter Benavente. Every morning, he stands at the front entrance of the Dededo Senior Center,  physically holding the door open for seniors because the Americans with Disabilities Act-required access switch is broken.

That’s just one of many problems causing concern at the old facility he says was built nearly 40 years ago, some still unfixed since 2023's Typhoon Mawar. Inside, there are leaky ceilings, broken tiles, plumbing issues, faulty electrical…and band-aid fixes.

"This place would leak at times," said the mayor. "That’s why we have a pan over there." Benavente says these are temporary workarounds never meant to last this long, but the village is still waiting for FEMA claim money to come through.

"We want to make sure, as far as the centers are concerned, that it’s ready for our   manåmko’ to come in and enjoy themselves there. So if it’s something we can fix right there and then, we’ll do it. But it would be nice, as far as the program is concerned, if there can be some type of funding allocated for that particular issue of the maintenance of the building," he shared.

With funding still pending, the mayor, his staff, and even the senior center clients have been stepping-up. One senior even donated his own tiles.

"He had some tiles at his house and he said, ‘Mayor, it’s okay. I can do it.’" Benavente explained.

And a staff member learned repair techniques online — patching what they could, even if the tiles don’t match. "It takes a people to run a village and a community," the mayor said. "Any kind of help we can get to the village of Dededo will be greatly appreciated."

These quick fixes keep the center open for now. But the mayor says they’re not sustainable, especially with limited resources, like only six maintenance workers with many other obligations in the island's most-populated village. 

"I don’t want to beat around the bush. When you ask us, ‘how can we keep up with it?’ I’m not going to lie, I can’t keep up. And this is the honest truth," he said.

Dededo is set to host the administration’s proclamation signing for Senior Citizens Month in May. Benavente is hoping real repairs will be underway by then, so seniors can walk into a safe and accessible center.