For senior citizens: P500 additional financial aid out before Christmas

CEBU, Philippines —  The distribution of the additional P500 financial assistance to senior citizens on top of their monthly aid will be given before Christmas Day.

This was according to Cebu City Councilor Jun Alcover, the chairman of the Committee of Senior Citizens of the Cebu City Council.

In an interview with The Freeman yesterday, Alcover reiterated that he had proposed a P500 additional aid for the city's senior citizens on top of the existing P1,000 monthly financial assistance.

Alcover said the P500 additional financial assistance will serve as a Christmas gift and was recently approved by the Cebu City Council.

“So tu-a na na sa council, na-aprobahan na na. So ang mayor na ang muhimo ana aron i-announce niya kay di man ta executive, pero amo na ng giduso na P500. At least bonus nila para pangpasko,” said Alcover.

He further assured that regardless of the decision of the executive department, the monthly assistance of senior citizens that is distributed quarterly will also arrive before Christmas day.

Further, Alcover said he is now also pushing to amend that octogenarian or those between 80 to 89-years-old, and nonagenarian or those 90 to 99-years-old, will be receiving P25,000 instead of P5,000 and P15,000, respectively. While those who will reach the age of 100-years-old will be receiving at least P50,000.

“Napasar ni sya sa second reading pa, wala pay final,” said Alcover.

During the regular session last Wednesday, Councilor Jocelyn Pesquera questioned the “ballooned” budget proposals for 2024, including from the Office of the Mayor.

According to Pesquera, some proposals were allocated for the same sector yet proposed by different departments.

Among those she highlighted is the P500 million appropriation for the senior citizens as indicated in the budget proposal of the Office of the Mayor, which is also included in the P100 billion proposed budget for 2024.

Alcover clarified that the said fund appropriation does not have the same purpose.

“Duna man guy gi propose ang executive nga opisina sa mayor nga gahinan og P500 million ang senior citizens council, ako ang chairman sa Seniors Citizen council. Wa ko kahibaw ana. Dili na para ayuda, kay kanang mga ayuda approved naman na,” said Alcover.

Alcover added that he does not know where the said fund appropriation proposal for the senior citizens will be used for.

“Di na sya pareho og purpose kay katong P500 million na gi propose sa mayor wala tuy labot sa kining existing ordinansa,” said Alcover. (CEBU NEWS)