TAOA clarifies issues: Senior meals are not $20 each
Director of Territorial Administration on Aging, Ale Tifimalae Ale says the meals being served as part of the Senior meals program are not $20 each, but instead are worth somewhere between $4.50 and $5.25 each. The Director also clarified that the hot meals will be issued twice a week, not twice a month as indicated earlier.
He told Samoa News yesterday that the “sole purpose” of the new hot meal program “is to have the elderly population fellowship, congregate and communicate among themselves. That’s why the food is not allowed to be taken home, rather the elderly folks are to enjoy their meals over games and fellowship.”
Ale also stated that the program is for anyone over 60 years of age, but mainly for the unfortunate.
He said that is why they terminated handing out food vouchers— because the main purpose of this program is for the senior citizens to come together and “have fun.”
He said that’s also why the grantors stopped the issuance of food vouchers— because the citizens were not fellowshipping. Instead, they would just pick up their vouchers and go on their way, not spending time together, which is the intention of the program.
Ale said each center has games such as checkers, bingo, playing cards and dominos. But he said, “A minor setback was that after the program, some of them took the games home with them.”
HOT MEALS
The Director told Samoa News that TAOA has submitted a supplemental budget to the government, as they are looking at adding another day to distribute the hot meals, making it three days a week.
Samoa News asked the director why there are six meatballs on plates distributed by the Eastern District compared to the Western District, with fewer. The TAOA Director said, “it has to do the with the size of the meatballs—if they are small, then each plate has to have six, if they are big, then it’s three.”
Samoa News also asked if the caterers would be using local produce. He responded “yes, the caterers are encouraged to use local fruits and vegetables, which is what was recommended from the beginning by the local nutritionist.”
Ale said the menu listings they give to the caterers are coming directly from San Francisco, where the grantors are located. “However, when those lists were submitted to the local nutritionist at the hospital, there were minor changes made, and what we now have on the meals for the senior citizens are meatballs, fish, teriyaki chicken, chicken/beef chop suey, stir fry, rice, baked chicken, banana, taro, beef stew, vegetables, fruits and water.”
He said they’ve taken out the brisket, because it’s not really healthy and many of the seniors suffer from gout. He said the three caterers on Tutuila and families preparing the meals for Manu’a and Aunu’u are to prepare the meals that are on the menu already in place for the entire year.
CATERERS
Samoa News asked about the caterers for Tutuila, Manu’a and Aunu’u, and the Director explained that for Tutuila Island there are three caterers, who went through the bidding process with procurement office, where they submitted sealed bids.
He said there were a lot of businesses that bid for the central and western districts, while there was only one business bidding for the eastern district. Therefore, the board had no choice but to award the eastern district contract to that one business.
“There were about 11 businesses who bid for the central and western districts, and the board (TAOA/ Procurement officials) made the decisions regarding businesses who will be providing these services.” The three contractors for Tutuila are Country Club (western), Germaine Services (central) and Omar Shalhout (eastern).
Regarding Manu’a, Ale said there are three centers in Manu’a, one in Ofu/Olosega, one in Ta’u/Faleasao and one in Fitiuta. “We contacted families in the villages to cook the meals for the senior citizens in Manu’a”
In Manu’a there are 18 seniors in Fitiuta, Ta’u with 19, Faleasao 12, Olosega 8 and in Ofu, 23 senior citizens, which is why we asked families instead of businesses to provide the meals, as there’s not that many elderly folks there.”
Asked about Aunu’u, Ale said there’s one center in Aunu’u, with 20 people under this program and there is a family who is preparing all the meals for the Aunu’u seniors.
Samoa News also asked how much was awarded in the contract. Ale did not specify the amount of the contract, but stated that the budget allotment for the “hot meals” is $700,000 for the fiscal year.
CENTERS
According to Ale, there are a total of 14 centers, including Aunu’u and Manu’a in which they are to serve a total of 2,105 senior citizens. Samoa News asked if TAOA is paying for the use of these centers and the Director said yes, the monthly rent is $300 for each center. Samoa News notes that is $50,000+ is allocated for the rent alone on an annual basis.
VOUCHERS
The Director told Samoa News that he prefers the voucher system, and so do the senior citizens as it’s much easier than having the “hot meal” program to deal with, but they have no choice.
“Because it’s demanded by the grantor, and we are supposed to comply with the grantor’s mandates or else the funding will be taken away.”
He further told Samoa News that he, along with his staff had a successful first day for the new program. There were several hiccups but “we are trying our best to cater to, and serve the elderly population the best we can.”