PB oks P6.9M for program for seniors

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu Provincial Board has approved a P6.9 million budget for the province's program for the elderly dubbed as "Halad sa Gugma Alang Kang Lolo ug Lola."

A total allocation of P6,885,000 will be utilized for the payment of 4,590 sacks of NFA rice. Every sack contains 50 kilograms of rice.

Vice Governor Agnes Magpale lobbied for the passage of the appropriation as per request of the Provincial Social Welfare Development Office.

"It is declared in the policy of the State to value the dignity of every human being and prioritize the needs of every sector of the society which includes the elderly," she said.

The vice governor's office has been tasked to implement the program in cooperation with the PSWDO.

Under the program, each qualified senior citizen is entitled to three kilos of rice.

Through the program, elders can also get cans of milk and other goods. It is a continuing program for seniors, which started last year.

Magpale said the program is a way to recognize the contributions made by the seniors to their communities and families.

At least 26,851 seniors from 156 barangays in the province benefited from the program from January to December last year with P15.96 million as budget. This year, Capitol allocated P15.95 million for the implementation of the program. Funds were sourced from the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO).

Magpale explained that the lists of beneficiaries came from the barangays themselves. The goods that would be brought to them are based on the actual list.  (FREEMAN)