Elderly asks P1.5M for projects, allowance for chapter presidents

CEBU, Philippines - The United Senior Citizens Association (USCA) is asking the city government at least P1.5 million to fund programs aimed to benefit senior citizens in Cebu City by next year. The association is also asking for allowance for its chapter presidents.

The requests, stipulated in two separate resolutions passed by USCA, are now pending before the committees of appropriation and committee of laws of the City Council.

USCA President George Villamor said the programs and projects are aimed to encourage senior citizens from the city’s 80 barangays to become more “productive, participative and health conscious.”

Villamor said activities such as health and wellness seminars; awareness on government projects and programs for the elderly; spiritual renewal; relaxation, leisure and entertainment programs are necessary to prevent or combat ailments commonly associated with old age.

The group also plans to engage in a civic action program like a clean-up drive or a tree planting activity.

In a separate resolution, Villamor said the monthly allowance will cover transportation expenses of their chapter presidents. The budget, he said, may be taken from the one percent share of senior citizens in the general appropriations for barangays. 

Villamor said their chapter presidents, especially those from the mountain barangays, spend at least P600 for transportation in order to attend meetings at the city proper. Presidents of the senior citizen chapters attend at least two meetings every month to gather information they can relay to their members in the barangays.

The two committees of the City Council are expected to present their reports during the Council’s regular session on next week. (FREEMAN)