Seniors fail to claim P4.5M aid in Oct.

CEBU, Philippines -  The Cebu City government has forfeited up to P4.5 million worth of cash aid for senior citizens supposedly for distribution last October due to the failure of the beneficiaries to claim the money.

Based on records of the City Treasurer’s Office, the city government forfeited P2, 686,000 intended for 1,343 seniors from the north district and P1.9 million for 950 seniors from the south district.

Dr. Ester Concha, head of the city’s Department of Social Welfare and Services (DSWS), said beneficiaries are given 15 days to claim the money. This year, distribution was set from October 24 and November 7, but DSWS decided to extend the same until November 13 to accommodate the beneficiaries.

Agapita Cesa, chief of the Cash and Disbursement Division of the CTO said those who failed to claim their share may no longer be living in the city.

“Wala na diri nagpuyo, ang uban nangamatay na, nagbakasyon ang uban or nag-close (the distribution schedule had ended) nata pagkuha nila,” she said.

City Treasurer Diwa Cuevas said the city allocated P113 million for 60,000 registered seniors this year.

Rolando Llaguno of the Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) said earlier that the forfeited cash assistance will be reverted to the general fund.

Llaguno also reminded that beneficiaries who fail to claim their share for three consecutive times will be removed from the list of recipients.

“There are those who have not claimed their financial assistance for three consecutive times. All those will be deleted in the list. They are disqualified. Dili na sila maapail sa sunod nga payroll. They have to reapply,” he said.

In September this year, the city government also forfeited P5.2 million worth of unclaimed financial aid and another P5 million last May.

The distribution last October was the fourth tranche of cash assistance for seniors. The first was given last February, the second last May and the third last August. In totality, the city government has given P7,000 out of the P12,000 to each beneficiary.

OSCA proposed earlier that seniors donate P2,000 from their cash aid for the reconstruction of the Cebu City Medical Center, a signature campaign for which is still ongoing.

“We have to encourage them. I am determined and I am asking them their full support if only to reconstruct that CCMC. After all ang kaayohan sa mga Sugboanon maoy labing mahinungdanon,” Llaguno said.

If all senior citizens will support the move, the city will get P120 million from the donation. — (FREEMAN)