THE Cebu City Government will soon distribute identification (ID) cards to senior citizens, persons with disabilities (PWDs) and single mothers to make it easier for them to avail themselves of City programs.
Beneficiaries, though, have to be registered voters in the city since 2013 and 2011.
During the budget hearing on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2019, Jose Daluz III, special assistant to the mayor, said the Office of the Mayor had allocated a P7 million budget for this purpose.
The ID is expected to cost between P15 and P20.
“Every time they ask (for) benefits from the City, the same documents are being submitted. The same papers are being submitted,” said Daluz.
However, they must pre-register for the program in their barangays, he said.
Qualified senior citizens, PWDs and single mothers will be pioneering grantees of the card.
“We prioritize those women who have children, especially the single parents, because they are the ones who are more in need,” Daluz said.
He said the City will print and distribute 300,000 IDs at the start of the program.
The IDs will be valid only for two years.
“This is still trial and error. As the program goes on, more benefits will be included,” said Daluz.
He said the City might enter into an agreement with some establishments to grant ID holders discounts of at least five percent.
“The benefits can evolve. We just need to further study it,” he said.
Daluz said the council can always create an ordinance institutionalizing the program.
Association of Barangay Councils president and Kasambagan Barangay Captain Franklyn Ong, an ex-officio councilor, suggested to the Office of the Mayor to create clearer guidelines for card beneficiaries.
But Ong agreed to the program, saying it would fast-track their transactions.
City Councilor Phillip Zafra also said it would be easier for card holders, especially senior citizens, to track their benefits. (JJL)