‘Some Aging Center rooms not being used to save power’

The Office on Aging has been implementing such a massive cost-cutting regimen on their utilities costs on Saipan such that most of the rooms at the Man’amko Center in Garapan are not being used right now.

That’s according to Office on Aging director Walter Manglona last Friday, speaking during the House Ways and Means Committee budget hearing for the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs’ proposed 2024 budget.

Manglona said he is sure that the respective Office on Aging resident directors on Tinian and Rota are implementing the same cost-cutting measures.

With most rooms at the Man’amko Center not being utilized right now, they only get used during typhoons as a shelter, he said. Those unused rooms include the exercise room, music room, and the arts and crafts room.

“We’ve actually closed most of the rooms down so that we can help save costs on utilities,” Manglona said.

He said the seniors citizens who go to the Man’amko Center are pretty much packed in the congregation area.

Now they are trying to figure out how they can schedule and allow the man’amko to do their activities within the same confines of the dining area so that they can continue to save on utility costs.

He said they have been applying for various grants, in addition to their current grants from the Administration for Community Living. Manglona said a lot of these funds are specifically earmarked for services.

While they have been doing major cost-cutting on their ends, he said they’re trying their best not to shortchange the senior citizens.

The director said he just finished their state plan for the next four years and the final draft is now being routed for review. He said many great programs and activities are in that state plan.

Manglona pointed out that there are some senior citizens who don’t have the means to cut their grass in their home and that they used to go out there and cut it for them. He said during typhoon when some seniors don’t have families to cover up the windows, their staff would go out there or buy the plywood to cover it for them.

“We need to get employees. We need to get equipment. We need to get fuel. We need to get all these things to go out there, not just for bush cutting but to help clean if they don’t have anybody else to go in there and clean their house,” the director said.

Manglona said it hurts his heart to see the proposed budget that they have to work with.

“I need full money,” said Manglona, adding that for meals alone they are looking at over $468,000 for the entire year, which is just their budget for Saipan. The Office on Aging on Saipan has a population of over 60 seniors that come in daily.

“We are not asking for more. We’re just asking for help,” the director said.

He said he understands where the CNMI is economically, that the Commonwealth is recovering and going through a lot.

Manglona said through partnership, proper planning, cost cutting, and a little funding from the local government, they can meet their goal for the man’amko.