CH lends P10T to each of 716 city families

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City government yesterday granted P10,000 cash loans to each of the 716 poor families residing in the city’s “danger areas” which included riverbanks and along creeks that are prone to flooding.

Virginia Piccio of the City Hall’s Department of Social Welfare and Services (DSWS) explained that the beneficiaries are required to pay the city within five years without any interest.

Speaking before the beneficiaries, Piccio said “Dili kini bayad kon ang inyong balay maigo sa clearing operation. Kinahanglan nga bayaran ninyo ang loan aron nga makakuha kamo og daku-daku nga kantidad sa sunod (This is not payment for those properties who shall be affected by the clearing operations. You have to pay this loan so that you can get bigger amounts next time.”

Piccio said the beneficiaries are required to pay back the city in the amount of P166 every month for five years.

Acting City Treasurer Emma Villarete said that the over P7 million spent yesterday was taken from the P10 million budget that was proposed by the mayor and approved by the City Council in the 2012 annual budget.

The city legislators had asked the mayor’s office to submit to them the list of beneficiaries of the City Hall’s Livelihood Assistance Program so that they will know how the executive department spent the budget.

Celerina Mercado and Roque Baricog, whose shanties are built beside the creek that passes by Arellano Street in Barangay San Roque, were among those who received the livelihood cash loans.

Mercado who was sitting on a wheel chair was so happy because she will use the little amount to finance a livelihood project with the help of her daughters.

“Gamiton nako ni ang kwarta isip puhonan sa gamay nako nga negosyo pagpaninda,(I will use this money to finance my little store.)” said Baricog’s wife, Marlene.

The distribution of the cash loans did not start until the mayor arrived. The beneficiaries waited for him for more than two hours.

In his speech, Rama took advantage of the situation by reminding the beneficiaries on how to properly dispose their garbage and to tell them why he did not approve the ordinance that will penalize parents who will inflict harm on their children as a form of discipline. — (FREEMAN)