CH forfeits P5.3M cash aid for seniors

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City government forfeited around P5.3 million cash assistance for senior citizens after the beneficiaries failed to claim their latest installment of financial aid within the allotted period.

Records at the cash and disbursement division of the City Treasurer’s Office show that almost 2,000 senior citizens have not claimed their P3,000 cash aid from December 22 to 29. Under the city government’s guidelines, the beneficiaries were supposed to claim it within 15 days.

But the City Treasurer’s Office shortened the period to seven days to allow disbursement officers to liquidate.

City treasurer Diwa Cuevas explained that the 15-day period is applicable only when the year is not ending.

 “Kanang fifteen days is only applicable kung dili ta  mag-closing. Kun pananglit mag-fifteen days luoy kaayo ang disbursing officers. Atong giprotektahan atong mga disbursing officers nga maka-liquidate gyud,” Cuevas said.

The amount was the latest installment of the P12,000 annual assistance promised by Mayor Michael Rama.

So far, the city government has only given P10,000. The mayor, however, promised to give the remaining P2,000 from last year including this year’s assistance.

Agapita Cesa, chief of the cash and disbursement division, said that the forfeited amount was only very minimal. She said some of those who were not able to claim were on vacation.

Felicitas Archua, one of those seniors whose cash aid was forfeited, said she was in Manila during the distribution.

“Naa ko sa Manila man. Ingon man gud fifteen days. Pero sige nalang, ang-ang man og mamugos, okay na lang,” she said, adding that it was her first time experiencing her cash aid being forfeited.

 Archua went to the City Hall to claim the cash aid last January 5 but the CTO officers told her that her financial assistance was already forfeited.

 The city government allotted P168 million for the recent distribution of cash aid to almost 60,000 registered seniors in the city.

Last November, the city government also forfeited around P4.5 million cash aid, P5.2 million last September, and P5 million last May due to the same reason.

 The forfeited cash assistance will go back to the general fund. (FREEMAN)