New guideline for elders' cash aid awaits approval

CEBU, Philippines - The new guideline of the Cebu City Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) to obtain financial assistance is now awaiting approval by the Cebu City Council and the Office of the Mayor. 

COSA head Dodong Casinillo told The FREEMAN that the Cebu City Senior Citizen Council has finalized the guideline, which was already forwarded to the council for approval.

COSA hopes that it will be passed during the council’s regular session on Monday.

Under the new guideline, Casinillo said more senior citizens in the city can avail themselves of the financial assistance from the city government.

He said this is part of the city’s thrust of giving importance to the elders.

According to Casinillo, the city has already given financial assistance to over 38,000 senior citizens, which are only a portion of the current population of 50,000.

The new guideline was also devised against unscrupulous senior citizens who would take advantage of the city’s assistance.

It requires senior citizens to show documents proving that they have lived in the city for at least five years as required by law.

They are also asked to prepare an affidavit to support their documents which will be authenticated by the OSCA, Department of Social Welfare and Development and their barangays.

Once approved by the council and Mayor Michael Rama, the new guideline will be published in newspapers of general circulations as soon as possible.

Casinillo also assured that they will continue distributing P2,000 as birthday gift and another P2,000 as Christmas gift to senior citizens.

OSCA hopes that it could start giving out the financial assistance by June 12 this year.

The council has set aside P145 million from the city’s annual budget this year as cash assistance for senior citizens.

In 2010, the city had appropriated about P121 million for the city’s eligible senior citizens.  (FREEMAN)