She expired while still holding money, woman dies after claiming city aid

CEBU, Philippines -  A woman in her 70s died after receiving the P4,000 financial assistance from the Cebu City government in Barangay Guadalupe last Saturday.

Candelaria Quijada suddenly became unconscious moments after she arrived home from the distribution of financial aid at the barangay hall.

Guadalupe Barangay Captain Michael Gacasan told The FREEMAN that Quijada died while sitting on a chair still holding the money.

Gacasan added Quijada was advised by her daughter not to go to the distribution as she was very ill.

But Quijada insisted and her daughter just accompanied her.

Gacasan said Quijada was prioritized during the distribution as she was on a wheel chair and looked very sick.

Rep. Tomas Osmeña donated a coffin from his Priority Development  Assistance Fund (PDAF) and the barangay also gave assistance to her family.

Mayor Michael Rama extends the distribution of financial assistance for another week starting yesterday after a number of senior citizens went to Cebu City Hall and complained that they were not able to claim their share last Saturday.

Rama said this happened because the Office for Senior Citizens Affairs assumed that lesser senior citizens will show up this year as compared to the attendance last year.

“They may have make an assumption nga dili ni manunga, kaya sauna siguro maong wala nanunga kay likely either tua sa abroad or sa laing probinsiya. I told them that what’s more important is that if it is due to them, gaan jud na,” Rama said.

Cebu City administrator Atty. Jose Marie Poblete denied allegations that the city ran out of budget last Saturday.

He said that they did not bring to the barangays the total amount for distribution for security reasons.

Rama apologized for what happened and told Poblete and the city accounting to schedule another distribution of financial aid to the senior citizens.

“Pasaylo-a lang nga naay mga barangays nga na-overshoot ug undershoot based sa ilang assumption, which should not be like that in the first place,” said Rama.

OSCA and the City Treasurer’s Office will be identifying those people who were not able to claim.  Rama warned those who are planning to “double claim” that they will be punished.

“Ipadakop gyud ni sila ang mga nag double claim kay pangilad man gud na siya,” said Rama.

—/MBG (FREEMAN)