Increase in PWDs’ cash aid lobbied

CEBU, Philippines - Citing the increasing prices of commodities, the Cebu City Council requested the executive department to increase the financial assistance to at least 9,349 registered persons with disabilities (PWDs) in the city.

From P5,000 per year, the council wants the amount increased to P12,000, just like the financial aid granted to the senior citizens.

“There is a need to increase the financial assistance to the city’s persons with disability to P12,000 per year effective this year because of the inevitable increase of prices of basic commodities,” read the resolution penned by Councilor Eugenio Gabuya Jr.

Gabuya wanted the additional amount of P65.4 million included in the next supplemental budget this year to cover the P7,000 differential amount for each PWD.

The resolution that was approved on Wednesday was forwarded to the offices of the City Mayor, City Treasurer, and City Budget Officer, and to the city’s Department of Social Welfare and Services.

DSWS head Ester Concha said she has perused the resolution already and will talk with the PWD association and the council about it.

“Kay naa ma’y PWD nga kinahanglan og wheel chair. It will be unfair kon imong ipareha sa uban nga makalakaw. Naa unta’y grading g’yud, grade one, grade two or three and pila g’yu’y assistance. It will not be the same amount kay depende na sa iyang need,” she said.

Although amenable to the proposal, Mayor Michael Rama said he wants it studied first, adding that he has been eyeing to also increase the financial aid and honorarium of barangay workers.

Rama said DSWS should come in and formulate “fair and reasonable criteria.”

“Dili man magpareha ang ilang situation. Naay PWD nga putol ang kamot, dili ka-tingog,” he said.

“That is why it has to be categorized, it has to be standardized, it should not be sweeping nga at the end of the day, daghan na ang gustong ma-PWD,” the mayor added.  (FREEMAN)