For the remaining 5,000 beneficiaries: Elderly to receive cash aid before year ends

CEBU, Philippines – The more than 5,000 senior citizens whose applications for the P4,000 cash assistance were earlier rejected by the city government may already receive their shares before the year ends.

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama has ordered city administrator Jose Mari Poblete to ensure that all senior citizens who have not been paid of their cash assistance will be funded in the 5th supplemental budget.

There are more than 32,000 beneficiaries of the financial aid granted by the city to the elderly. However, more than 5,000 of them were not able to immediately collect their shares when the city started releasing it early this year for various reasons.

Councilor Joey Daluz III, chairman of the Cebu City Council's committee on budget and finance, said some P22.6 million has been allocated already for the purpose.

The amount is included in the 5th supplemental budget that may be tackled by the members of the city council today.

"Wala na kana'y problema kay duna nay budget nga atong gi-allocate para ana," Daluz said.

Catalina Silot, 62-year-old resident of Sitio Living Water, Barangay Basak-Pardo was happy to hear of the development because she was among those who did not receive the cash incentive.

"Maayo unta og kaloyan sa Ginoo nga maapil na g'yud ang akong ngalan sa makadawat og cash assistance kay kadaghan na ko nga nabawo lang," she said.

For a senior citizen to be entitled of the assistance, he or she must be a resident and a registered voter of the city. (FREEMAN)