The government announced yesterday that it has completed its score calculations of the applications to rent a flat in its high-rise rental residential tower for senior citizens on Plot P in Areia Preta district.
The government will now start carrying out assessments to verify whether the respective applicants are capable of taking care of themselves.
The Social Welfare Bureau (IAS) made the announcement in a statement yesterday.
The building, the construction of which was completed last month, has a total of 1,815 studio-style units.
The first-phase application period, which covered 759 flats, ran between November 6 and December 31 last year, during which around 1,500 applications were submitted.
The bureau has said that the second-phase application process would be carried out on a permanent basis, i.e., eligible seniors would be able to file their applications at any time. However, the bureau is yet to announce when the second-phase application process will start.
The bureau’s assessments of the rental flat applications are carried out based on a points-based system, according to which those living in low-rise walk-ups, those living alone, and those having held a local ID card for a longer time than others obtain a higher score.
The housing estate, the first of its kind in the government’s housing programme, aims to help senior citizens living in low-rise walk-ups improve their living quality.
In general, permanent local residents aged 65 or over capable of taking care of themselves are eligible to apply for a flat there.
Applicants are only required to confirm that they have the ability to take care of themselves when filling in application forms. However, successful applicants are required to undergo an official evaluation to verify that they do have the ability.
Yesterday’s IAS statement said that the bureau has completed score calculations for the applications submitted during the first-phase application period, adding that from today applicants can check their scores on the programme’s website (https://www.olderpersonsapart.ias.gov.mo). The statement also said that the bureau will now inform successful applicants to make an appointment to undergo evaluations of their ability to take care of themselves.
As the first-phase application covered 759 flats, the first 759 applicants obtaining the highest scores will be able to move into the flats as long as they pass their evaluations of their ability to look after themselves.
According to the statement, the evaluations will be carried out in social service facilities run by four organisations, namely the Macau General Union of Neighbourhood Associations (Kai Fong), the Macau Federation of Trade Unions (Gung Luen), the Macau Women’s General Association (Fu Luen), and Caritas Macau. Those who will carry out the evaluations have been trained by the bureau for the purpose, the statement said.
Speaking to reporters yesterday, IAS President Wilson Hon Wai said that his bureau was aiming to complete the evaluations of the respective applicants’ ability to look after themselves by the end of next month.
Hon made the remarks on the sidelines of yesterday’s Spring Festival luncheon hosted by his bureau at Macau Fisherman’s Wharf.
The bureau has said that successful applicants can expect to move into their flats in the fourth quarter.
Only one bid submitted for tender for restaurant
Meanwhile, Hon also said that his bureau had only received one bid for its public tender for the granting of a 60-month lease to operate a Chinese restaurant on the first floor of the rental residential building for seniors.
The tender was launched last month. Potential bidders were required to submit their quotations by Friday last week, after which the sole bid was unsealed by IAS officials on Monday.
Hon said that the sole bid has been accepted. However, the bureau will only announce details of the bid after assessing it, he said.
Social Welfare Bureau (IAS) President Wilson Hon Wai talks to reporters at Macau Fisherman’s Wharf yesterday. – Photo: Yuki Lei
