Mandaue seniors’ cash aid distribution starts today

CEBU, Philippines — Senior citizens in Mandaue City are set to receive the first tranche of their cash assistance from the city government.

The house-to-house distribution of aid will start today and will end next week, April 23. Each senior will get P4,000.

City treasurer Regal Oliva said 24,000 senior citizens in the city are entitled to receive the cash aid.

He said the city allocated P92 million for the seniors’ financial assistance.

Based on the guidelines set for the house-to-house distribution, the financial assistance shall be personally released to the senior citizen upon presentation of his/her original senior citizen identification card.

 “Those who failed to claim the financial assistance as scheduled will forfeit their claims in favor of the City of Mandaue,” it read.

The guidelines added that senior citizens who are relocated to another barangay but within the city shall likewise be entitled to the financial assistance in the barangay where his/her payroll belongs.

In case of death of a senior citizen whose records were validated last February, he/she shall likewise be entitled to the financial assistance. Only the immediate, legitimate family and family member authorized by other heirs can claim of the aid upon presentation of the deceased senior citizen ID’s (white and blue, as the case maybe) and a copy of the death certificate.

“Those who died prior to February, 2021 validation will not be entitled to the said financial assistance,” the guidelines read.

It added that if the senior citizen is hospitalized or under quarantine/ isolation during the period of distribution, then he/she may authorized somebody to claim the financial assistance upon presentation of the required docume nts, such as letter of authorization, medical certificate, and original senior citizen ID, among others.

During the house-to-house distribution in a particular area, the health and safety protocols shall be observed and the senior citizen who failed to claim from the team of distributors shall report to their respective barangays so that the financial aid will be given accordingly provided it is within April 12 to 23, 2021.

 “No claims will be accommodated at the City Treasurer’s Office but only in the barangays,” it added.

Meanwhile, the city government has vowed to intensify border patrol operations at night to deter illegal activities like entry of contraband and unregulated fishing, among others.

It plans also to create another local sea patrol group to conduct the operations, as well as purchase additional equipment.

Recently, the city government bought a new speed boat for the said initiative. — Romeo T. Limpangog, KQD (FREEMAN)