Cebu city earmarks P50M dole 10T PWDs to get cash assistance

CEBU, Philippines - Ten thousand persons with disabilities (PWDs) in Cebu City will receive their cash assistance from the city government this month, the Department of Social Welfare and Services (DSWS) confirmed.

The cash assistance, which amounts to P50 million, is part of DSWS’ P60 million budget for its welfare program for PWDs this year. Each PWD will receive P5,000.

DSWS head Dr. Ester Concha said the payroll for the cash aid has already been processed. 

“Done with the payroll, na-process na namo sa budget office (The budget office has processed the payroll),” Concha said.

The city has registered 11,700 persons with disabilities, but Concha said the status of at least 1,700 is yet to be validated.

Concha’s confirmation came following a comment from Councilor Sisinio Andales that the processing of the cash aid has been “sluggish” despite the fact that office’s budget for 2013 has already been approved. 

“Budgeted naman ta na, ngano wala paman na-release gihapon?  Priority man ang cash aid sa PWD sa city government (That is already part of the budget. Why hasn’t it been released yet? The cash aid for PWDs is a priority of the city government),” Andales said.

The confirmation of the release of the cash aid came as good news for PWDs after the city admitted last week that it lacks the money for the P4,000 cash assistance for senior citizens scheduled to be distributed initially on December 18 during the Christmas program at the Cebu Coliseum.

The city would need P240 million for 60,000 senior citizens.

Despite the admission of OIC City Treasurer Diwa Cuevas that the city does not have enough funds, Mayor Michael Rama was quick to say that the city is not bankrupt.

He reasoned that the city will never go bankrupt as long as the residents will continue to pay taxes. He is also optimistic of the money the city will get from developments at the South Road Properties (SRP).

Rama has promised to give the senior citizens P10,000 each this year. Of this amount, P4,000 was released last March while P2,000 was released last October. The city is now considering of releasing the remaining P4,000 in tranches.

During the deliberation of DSWS’ proposed budget for 2014, Andales also questioned why the department has not released the honoraria of at least 362 Barangay Environmental Officers (BEOs) amounting to P8.7 million from July to December despite the amount already appropriated under the Supplemental Budget for this year.

Councilor Nida Cabrera, chairperson of the Council’s committee on environment, said the Certificate of Availability of Fund (CAF) for the honoraria is yet to be signed by the city accountant. It was Cabrera who authored the resolution calling for the release of the honoraria for BEOs.

DSWS has proposed close to P60 million under Maintenance and other Operating Expenses (MOOE) for next year’s cash distribution for PWDs.

Help

Meanwhile, Concha has appealed to barangay officials to help DSWS with the “Operation Second Chance” center, the rehabilitation center for minors in conflict with the law.

There are 175 minors housed in the facility in Barangay Kalunasan at present.

Concha said they need the help of the community since the department does not have enough personnel, especially for its child protection unit.

“Di lang ta magsalig sa DSWS kay dako kaayo ang coverage sa among trabaho. We need help and I hope everyone is willing to help particularly barangay officials (Let us not rely fully on DSWS because our job has a very wide coverage. We need help and I hope that everyone is willing to help, particularly barangay officials),” Concha said./JMO (FREEMAN)