CLOSE to 60,000 senior citizens in Cebu City received yesterday the third tranche of their financial assistance this year from the City Government.
As announced by Mayor Michael Rama during his State of the City Address last Saturday, qualified senior citizens claimed P2,000 each in cash during the simultaneous half-day distribution in the barangays.
The amount forms part of the P5,000 total financial assistance that senior citizens received for this year.
In January, City Hall distributed P1,000 while another P2,000 was given last April.
Rosita Ela, 63, of Barangay Tinago said she will spend a portion of her money to buy food for her family. The rest, she will use to buy her medicines.
That way, she said, her family could also enjoy what she is getting from the City.
Although the distribution was done in Tinago Barangay Gym, Ela went to City Hall yesterday afternoon to sign the payroll, something she failed to do when she claimed the money.
“I got so excited to claim the financial aid. I’ll make sure, though, to sign the payroll the next time lest I forfeit this benefit,” she said.
While most of the elderly will use the cash for food and medicines, 87-year-old Ramon Borromeo said his cash aid will be spent on recreation.
“I travel once in a while and enjoy because that’s exactly why we are given this assistance,” he said.
But before he could claim his financial assistance, Borromeo was asked by the Office of the Senior Citizen’s Affairs (OSCA) to renew his senior citizen identification (ID) card.
During yesterday’s distribution, OSCA did not note any hitches.
For those who failed to claim their financial aid, City Treasurer Diwa Cuevas said seniors can claim it today in the booths installed at the Plaza Sugbo grounds, in front of City Hall.
“They are given 15 days after the distribution date to claim their financial assistance. Failure to do it within the prescribe number of days will mean forfeiture of their privilege,” Cuevas said.
For those who will claim today, Cuevas advised them to bring along with them their senior citizen’s ID.
Last Tuesday, the City also distributed P1,000 financial assistance to all qualified persons with disabilities.