Monday, September 29, 2008 Elderly remind mayor of promise
AS they open the celebration of the Senior Citizens Week, Cebu City’s senior citizens reminded the mayor of the P2,000 birthday and Christmas gifts promised to them last year.
Mayor Tomas Osmeña promised to give them P1,000 each on their birthday and another P1,000 for Christmas in June 2007 but fund sources still have to be identified.
Councilor Rodrigo Abellanosa, chairman of the City Council committee on social services, is optimistic that the cash assistance will be released very soon, with the
impending sale of the South Road Properties (SRP) lots.
The annual P2,000 cash assistance is estimated to cost the City some P50 million a year.
“We’re still trying to balance funding requirements and availability of funds at this time. For sure, our senior citizens will be afforded these benefits at the right time as promised by Mayor Tom,” he said in an interview yesterday.
Release
Labangon Barangay Captain Felix Abella said that many of their members have been following up on the release of the financial assistance.
Abella, the president of the Federation of Senior Citizens’ Associations of the Philippines Central Visayas chapter, said their members hope to get the cash gifts soon. But the fund release was stalled due to the absence of an ordinance allowing the annual disbursement.
The Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs estimated that there are around 29,000 residents in the city who are 60 years old or older, but only 15,000 will benefit from the cash gift.
This is because Osmeña specified that only those who were able to vote in the last elections will be allowed to receive the amount, which is intended for their medicines and other needs.
“We were told there is already a budget for this but City Hall still has to work out the ordinance and the implementing rules for the distribution. Without an ordinance, it will just be another dole out, which might not be allowed by law,” Abella told Sun.Star Cebu yesterday.
In the ordinance, the purpose of the cash assistance will be specified, which is for their medicines and medical exams.
“We are hoping this will be released soon, especially that we will again celebrate the Senior Citizens Week, the members will surely appreciate it,” Abella added.
The federation will celebrate the Senior Citizens Week from Oct. 1 to 7. (LCR)
