Lapu-Lapu City seniors, PWDs get cash aid

CEBU, Philippines — More than 22,000 senior citizens of Lapu-Lapu City received their annual cash assistance from the city government last Saturday.

The financial aid, which was increased to P3,500 from P3,000 last year, was simultaneously distributed in all barangays including those in Olango Island.

Persons with disabilities (PWDs) also received last Saturday their P3,000 annual cash assistance from the Lapu-Lapu City Government.

Their cash aid was increased from P2,500 last year.

The number of beneficiaries from the elderly sector has been growing yearly.

Last year, the Office of the Senior Citizen’s Affairs (OSCA) in Lapu-Lapu City registered 21,355 senior citizens.

Meanwhile, the Mandaue City Government will start releasing the third tranche of its annual cash aid to senior citizens today, Monday.

Each registered senior citizen is entitled to an annual cash aid of P6,000, given in three tranches at P2,000 each.

The city government released the first tranche of the cash assistance last May and the second tranche last August.

Mayor Gabriel Luis Quisumbing will lead a ceremonial turnover at the Mandaue Sports and Cultural Complex today.

Senior citizens from barangays Cambaro, Centro, Guizo and Mantuyong are expected to claim their assistance during the turnover.

The rest of the beneficiaries will receive their cash assistance in their respective barangays.

Jessie Perez, head of the City Social Welfare and Services Office, said schedules have been set for the cash distribution in every barangay.

The city is distributing the financial aid by barangay because of limited manpower.

This way, they will also ensure the safety of the senior citizens as they won’t have to join long queues.

The distribution will be held in the barangay gymnasiums. Beneficiaries are required to present their senior citizen identification cards.

The distribution of the cash assistance to beneficiaries residing in Barangays Ibabao-Estancia, Basak, Jagobiao, Canduman, Maguikay and Cabancalan is scheduled on Tuesday, December 12.

Beneficiaries residing in Barangays Subangdaku, Tipolo, Casuntingan, Banilad and Bakilid will get their cash aid on Wednesday.

On Thursday, the cash assistance will be released to senior citizens living in Barangays Alang-alang, Umapad, Opao, Looc, Labogon and Paknaan.

On Friday, senior citizens residing in Barangays Tabok, Pagsabungan, Tingub, Cubacub, Casili and Tawason will be able to claim their cash assistance.

Perez said that senior citizens can send a representative to claim the assistance on their behalf provided there is an authorization letter and a compelling reason.

A medical document must be presented by a representative if the senior citizen is sick. In the absence of this document, a barangay official must accompany the representative to attest to the beneficiary’s condition.

The OSCA of Mandaue City registered 17,388 senior citizens this year, an increase of almost a thousand from last year’s 16,474. —/MBG (FREEMAN)