City lacks cash for seniors this Christmas

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Government does not have enough money it may have to renege on its promise to give in full on Dec. 18 the amount of P4,000 to each of the city's senior citizens.

"As of today, we cannot yet afford to pay for the distribution of financial assistance to the seniors," said OIC City Treasurer Diwa Cuevas yesterday.

Because of this, it was proposed to Mayor Michael Rama, who has yet to finalize the schedule of releasing the cash assistance to senior citizens, that the P4,000 would instead be given in tranches.

"Dunay (There is a) proposal nga ihatag (to give) half-half. I-finalize pa na nato. Taas pa ang (We have to finalize that. Anyway, it is still early) December," Rama told reporters.

He is set to meet with Cuevas, City Administrator Jose Marie Poblete, Cuevas, and Office of Senior Citizens' Affairs (OSCA) head Rolando Llaguno to finalize the date and mode of distribution of the cash assistance.

Cuevas admitted that the City Government is currently incapable to give the entire amount of P4,000, as it does not have P240 million required to accommodate all of the over 60,000 senior citizens.

Despite Cuevas saying there is not enough cash for the elderly, Rama said City Hall is not in a state of bankruptcy.

"Dili mahitabo nga ma-bankrupt ang syudad; kung mubayad lang og buhis ang mga tawo (It would not happen that the City would go bankrupt…if only the people would pay their tax dues). Pila man ang SRP kung mahalin (How much is the SRP once it is sold)? Ang (The) Filinvest projects? Ang Block 27? Kung muabot na ang (If we already receive the promised fund as) CCMC help?" Rama said.

Llaguno earlier said that the initial target of distribution is ideally during the Christmas program for the senior citizens on Dec. 18 at the Cebu Coliseum.

Rama has promised to give the city's senior citizens P10,000 each this year. Of  the amount, P4,000 was released last March, while P2,000 was handed to each of them early October.

Rama has assured that the P4,000 would be given this month as a Christmas gift.-/RHM (FREEMAN)