A funding delay between the Mayors Council of Guam and the Department of Public Health and Social Services briefly paused operations at senior citizen centers earlier this week.  The temporary dispute has now been fully resolved and the focus is back on serving the island’s manåmko’. 

Senior centers islandwide were notified on Monday that doors could be temporarily closed due to delayed funding from Public Health. Mayors Council executive director Joyjean Arceo says only three to four sites were briefly closed on Tuesday, telling KUAM News, "We didn’t want to alarm anybody, but the fact is really this: if we here at MCOG are going to facilitate a program, we’re acting as a vendor and if we don’t have the funding in our account, we’re unable to do so."

But in a detailed letter in response, Public Health director Therese Arriola says the delays weren’t caused on their end, but by late amendments requested by Arceo. Despite the dispute, the issue has been quickly resolved and all centers reopened by Wednesday. 

It’s a relief for village mayors like Yigo mayor Frances Lizama, who says there were no meals, transportation or activities that day. She said, "It’s really the ones that need most of the care, we were just wondering how they were doing being home by themselves was one of the concerns."

"For the most part, they were understanding and okay. They were back at the center yesterday. As far as major affects, none whatsoever."

Down south, Yona mayor B.J. Terlaje says the Yona-Talo’fo’fo Senior Center was also closed, impacting some 30 to 40 participants. "I’m very grateful the Department of Public Health came to our meeting so we can come to an understanding and be much more transparent," he shared. "My issue was that the mayors are trying our very best to figure out how we don’t stop operations for our seniors because we respect our seniors. Of course at the end of the day, Yona couldn't move if we didn't have the funding."

In the meantime, most villages were able to keep their doors open.  Dededo mayor Peter Benevente noted how his centers adapted, saying, "I was born and raised to make sure we respect our manamko’, take care of our manamko’ and senior citizens and what not. With that being said, I’m not going to close the doors to our seniors. Our doors at the Dededo and Astumbor Senior Centers were open that day for whoever was there that day. I myself was able to play [recreation] leader at Dededo and the Vice Mayor was at Astumbo."

The MCOG has received partial funding, some $700,000 out of their $1.4 million request, with the remaining expected by March for continued operation.

For now, it’s business as usual at all senior centers.