Seniors get first tranche of cash aid

CEBU, Philippines —  The Office of Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) of Cebu City yesterday released this year's first installment of financial assistance for senior citizens.

Seniors citizens from all over Cebu City received their P2,000 aid for the months of January and February. The aid had a budget of more than P150 million.

It was not immediately known how many of the 75,028 registered seniors went out to get their money yesterday.

OSCA head Lourdes Ann Limpanog said the financial assistance was released in designated areas chosen by their respective barangays for the convenience of the beneficiaries.

“Financial assistance should be claimed personally by the senior citizen, dili mi modawat og authorization,” she said.

Limpanog also wants the senior citizens to be reminded of the 10 working days grace period. If they fail to claim the money during the specified release date, they will have to claim it from the City Treasurer’s Office with their OSCA identification cards.

Teresita Sabay, a 66-year-old senior said she was relieved after receiving the aid because she can now buy her maintenance medicines.

However, she contended that the P1,000 aid per month is not enough to cover her needs as she still has to pay her utility bills.

Under the financial assistance program, every qualified senior citizen is set to receive P12,000 yearly.

To be a qualified senior citizen, the senior must have been registered voter in Cebu City up to the year 2010. If the senior citizen became a registered voter after the said year, they are not qualified for the financial assistance as stated in the city ordinance, said Limpanog.

In Barangay Gaudalupe, the biggest barangay in the city, more than 5,000 seniors flocked to the gymnasium to claim their aid.

As the seniors lined up to claim their allowances, some took the opportunity to avail of free blood pressure and blood sugar monitoring offered by some groups. — Isabella G. Obor, USJR intern; and Micole Gerard J. Tizon, USC intern, BRP, (FREEMAN)