GGARP asks for state of emergency
The Government of Guam Association of Retired Persons is urging the governor to declare a state of emergency after Public Health and the non-profit organization evidently couldn't reach an agreement on costs.
By KUAM NewsGuam - The Government of Guam Association of Retired Persons is urging Governor Eddie Calvo to declare a state of emergency after the Department of Public Health and the non-profit organization evidently couldn't reach an agreement on costs to administer the Senior Citizens Operations Program, which operates the island's twelve senior centers.
KUAM News has confirmed with Mayors Council of Guam executive director Angel Sablan that a memorandum of agreement has been signed with Public Health this afternoon to take over managing and operating the senior centers. As part of the agreement the Council will receive $60,000 a month ($5,000 for each senior center) for operations and to pay staff. Sablan adds that the Mayors Council was not looking to take over the centers, but rather they were approached by Public Health.
GGARP is urging the governor to intervene as hundreds of senior citizens will be affected.
According to GGARP president Pilar Lujan there is no transitional plan which will ensure the integrity of the program with which it was intended through the Older Americans Act of 196. GGARP has been serving the island's senior centers for more than four decades.
Public Health's contract with GGARP expires on February 28. If all appropriate signatures are affixed on the MOU, according to Sablan the Mayors Council will take over operations at the senior centers effective March 1.