Council defers proposal to have seniors’ ward

CEBU, Philippines -  The passage of an ordinance establishing a senior citizens ward for the indigents at the Cebu City Medical Center was deferred for one month by the City Council due to “prematurity.”

 Yesterday, the council’s “legal luminaries” found Councilor Gerardo Carillo’s proposed legislation as something that cannot be implemented yet.

 â€œThe ordinance is still premature because the CCMC is yet to be built,” Councilor Nendell Hanz Abella stressed.

 Councilor Sisinio Andales as well shared the same argument.

 On the other hand, Councilor Alvin Dizon agreed on the approval of the proposed measure.

 â€œI beg to disagree. This is a good social piece of legislation. We can still approve this even if the construction of CCMC is yet to start,” he said.

 Carillo, who heads the council’s committee on social services, emphasized that the local government unit or the state is primarily responsible of extending services to the indigents particularly the senior citizens.

 â€œIt’s our responsibility to help the indigents. We cannot just throw them to the streets. We should attend to them without thinking how much (hospital bills) they incurred, that is our social responsibility,” Carillo said.

 The proposed legislation seeks to give free “full” medicines and hospitalization for the qualified indigent senior citizens.

 Councilor James Cuenco reacted to the said portion of the proposed resolution. “Why (do) we have to pay the full bills? The national government should also take part,” he pointed out.

 According to the proposal, only indigent senior citizens having an annual income below P60,000 may avail of the said program. Also, he or she must be a registered member of the Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs.

 The Department of Social Welfare and Services and the OSCA will be validating the records of the applicants.

 Carillo said seniors who availed the City Hospitalization Assistance and Medicines Program can no longer benefit the said program.

 But Councilor Noel Wenceslao said the measure might not be advantageous to the part of the city government because the proposed ordinance covers a huge number of beneficiaries.

 â€œThere are lot of indigents nga below P60,000 ang kita because they have no more income tax return. Pwerteng daghana ang hatagan ani,” Wenceslao said, stressing that a safety net must be incorporated to avoid any complications.

Carillo said the Senior Citizen’s Council would be the one making the appropriate guidelines. — (FREEMAN)