City's plan to extend P2,000 cash to senior citizens of Cordova to push through

CEBU, Philippines – Mayor Tomas Osmeña said the plan to extend the P2,000 cash incentives to the senior citizens in Cordova town will push through despite criticisms from his detractor.

Jonathan Guardo, who already announced his plan to run as congressman of the city’s south district, where Osmeña may also run, said it would be inappropriate for the mayor to grant such incentive to the people outside of his territorial jurisdiction when he failed to attend to the needs of his own constituents.

Cordova is one of the towns of the province, but Osmeña explained that he want to provide assistance to the people of Cordova “out of goodwill in relation to the city’s Big Brother program.”

The mayor said the city has already given any kind of assistance to other local government units, including the cities of Talisay, Mandaue and neighboring towns.

Guardo however said there are many poor residents in the city that need health assistance that prompted him to personally attend to their needs even if he is not a public official.

But Osmeña challenged Guardo to provide cash assistance to the senior citizens every year.

“You know why Guardo’s program is only to provide “lungon” (casket) to the constituents of the south district once they die?” the mayor asked. He explained by doing it, Guardo only needs to spend once instead of giving cash assistance to the senior citizens every year.

Starting this year, the city provides P2,000 cash incentive to each of senior citizens of the city. — Rene U. Borromeo (THE FREEMAN)