Result of venue confusion: Seniors claim P2T aid at City Hall

CEBU, Philippines - Several senior citizens had to go to Cebu City Hall yesterday to claim their financial aid from the city government after “confusion” in some barangays about the venue of the distribution.

One of them travelled at least 19 kilometers from the mountain barangay of Bonbon to the City Hall to get her P2,000 financial aid.

The woman, who asked not to be named, said she is afraid she might be delisted.

“Ang ako lang ma’am, dili lang unta mi i-apil sa politika. Daghan mi’ng nadunggan nga lain-lain ang lugar sa hataganan maong ni-anhi nalang g’yud ko sa City Hall para dili nako malibog asa moadto,” she said.

She said she has no problem on who will handle the disbursement of the financial aid for as long as the city government will release the P12,000 it promised senior citizens annually.

So far this year, the city government has already given P8,000 out of the P12,000 aid to at least 66,000 registered senior citizens in the city.

Meanwhile, City Councilor Jose Daluz said the confusion about the venue of the distribution is not the only problem during the recent distribution.

He said City Council’s Committee on Social Services, where he sits as chairman, is investigating private individuals who were allegedly involved in the distribution of the financial aid.

“A lot of complaints g’yud among nadawat. Of course, among giingnan mga tawo nga take pictures. We still have to check kay there are private individuals who stand for or who vouch for the senior citizens, even signed public documents,” he said.

Daluz said the committee will take action legally and in aid of legislation so that the disbursement of the cash aid will no longer have problems.

He said there are also private individuals who are tapped by the executive department to lead the distribution in aid of the coming barangay elections.

Daluz said incumbent barangay officials should be the ones involved in the release since it is being mandated by the ordinance.

“Lisod kayo kun ang mayor ang nagpauna ani’ng pag-violate sa ordinance. We can’t investigate the mayor. We will just file complaint against him for not following the ordinance. Ang among pag-investigate how we can intervene legislatively. Mga legislations to prevent mga ingon ana nga hitabo,” he said.

Daluz said the committee is still collating information and pictures on the disbursement of the assistance last Saturday.

Lea Japson, head of the city’s Department of Social Welfare and Services, said the private individuals tapped by Mayor Tomas Osmeña were his trusted men. However, she clarified that these private individuals were not allowed to distribute the financial aid, but just assisted in the distribution.

She said there are disbursing officers, who are employees of City Hall, who were assigned to do the distribution in every barangay. (FREEMAN)