University President, Dr. Andres C. Pagatpatan, Jr. warmly received Commissioner Enriqueta R. Rodeles of the National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC) for a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signing on Friday, October 4, 2024, at the President's Conference Room, ESSU Main Campus.
The said agreement will set in motion steps that will allow ESSU to initiate instruction and extension measures empowering senior citizens on digital literacy and cyber security. The agreement also seeks to provide research specimen in aid of House Bill No. 4696, "An Act Protecting Senior Citizens From Violence, Defining Elder Abuse, and Prescribing Penalties Therefore," currently under deliberation at the 19th Congress.
In her message, Commissioner Rodeles expressed that the partnership will be crucial in "empowering local senior citizens with the skills needed to confidently navigate the digital world to ensure that they can securely engage in the online world, protect their personal information, and stay connected to society."
In this age of digitalization and cyberspace, senior citizens are typically the most vulnerable. As in any sector of society, technology can connect and improve the quality of life of the elder members of the community but also has its inherent threats if not safeguarded properly.
Commissioner Rodeles also hopes that the MOA is only the beginning of a long term partnership between ESSU and the Commission and will usher in a new chapter of learning empowerment and inclusivity for the older sector of society.
