Bedridden seniors to get cash aid today

CEBU, Philippines - Senior citizens in Cebu City who failed to claim their financial assistance from the city government will be given a chance to receive it today.

In hopes that all seniors will receive the P2,000 aid, disbursement officers from the City Treasurer’s Office will conduct home visits to bedridden seniors.

CTO is yet to determine the exact number of seniors who failed to get their share of the assistance.

In Barangay Poblacion Pardo alone, at least 25 members were not able to claim the cash while some 60 members in other barangays have not yet received it too.

Accompanied by police officers, one or two disbursement officers assigned per barangay will proceed to the seniors’ houses, bringing with them the money.

Agapita Cesa, CTO administration officer, said there has been change in their policy with regards to members who died a few days prior to the home visit.

Before, the cash is released provided that the member died within the week.

In the new policy, however, Cesa said, the family of the dead senior cannot claim the P2,000 cash aid, but they will instead claim P10,000 burial assistance.

Last Friday, the city distributed the cash aid to some 60,000 senior citizens registered in the city.

The P2,000  is in addition to the P1,000 already given in February.

Mayor Michael Rama has promised to give the seniors P12,000 assistance, half of which is in cash and half is in kind. —/NSA (FREEMAN)