ABOUT 95 percent of Cebu City’s 94,099 registered senior citizens have already claimed their second quarter financial assistance, the Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs (Osca) announced on Monday, June 9, 2025.
Osca Director Chito Aragon said the number of senior citizens this year has increased to 94,099 from 92,600 in 2024. The total budget allocated for the second quarter’s cash aid stands at P282,297,000. Aragon, however, could not provide the exact figure for the first quarter’s budget.
The distribution, which began on June 7 in various barangays, is scheduled for three days.
Seniors who were unable to claim their assistance during the barangay distribution have until June 20 to receive it at the Osca, which is located in the Association of Barangay Councils’ building across from City Hall.
Qualified senior citizens are receiving P3,000, covering their allowances for April, May and June. This is in accordance with City Ordinance 2453, which grants them a P1,000 monthly allowance, released in three-month batches.
Osca projections indicate a monthly increase of around 12,000 new applicants seeking the assistance, while an estimated 6,000 beneficiaries are projected to be deceased each month.
Aragon also issued a stern reminder: senior citizens who fail to claim their aid for three consecutive distributions will be deactivated from the program. However, one can reapply to the office to avail themselves of the aid.
A key requirement for the financial assistance is being a registered voter in Cebu City since before 2013. Aragon clarified that senior citizens who registered to vote in 2014 or later are not covered by the current ordinance, unless an amendment is made.
The Osca director explained that the financial assistance program has a capped number of beneficiaries to prevent the City’s coffers from being depleted. He warned that without such a cap, an influx of senior citizens from outside the city could overwhelm the budget.
City Ordinance 2453 aims to acknowledge and support the contributions of senior citizens. / JPS