Cebu City to resume aid distribution Friday

CEBU, Philippines — With the election ban lifted, the Cebu City government is now ready to resume with the distribution of financial assistance to various beneficiaries starting Friday, May 13, 2022.

Mayor Michael Rama described it as “massive distribution” as he urged other city officials to help distribute the aid.

“Bisan ako, andam ko motabang sa distribusyon kun gikinahanglan,” he said.

The City Treasurer’s Office has already prepared the P277 million worth of aid for the 49,802 beneficiaries such as those who were affected by Typhoon Odette, victims of the different fire incidents, as well as for the city scholars, among others.

Rama instructed the City Administrator to prepare everything well so that distribution will be smooth, considering that people have been waiting for the release of the aids for a long time.

Up for distribution are the Tabang Alang sa Panginabuhian sa Atong Trabahante (TAPAT) or the economic stimulus package, aid for octogenarians senior citizens, aid for the rehabilitation programs of the City Office for Substance Abuse Prevention (COSAP), aid for Women and Family Affairs Commission (WFAC), and aid under Self-Employment Assistance Program (SEAP).

Also included are subsidy for the Gender and Development (GAD) and allowances for those hired under the Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES).

To recall, while the election ban was ongoing, the city government already arranged the documents needed to make the distribution of aid smooth after the elections.

Rama earlier said that he did not want to delay the giving out of financial assistance.

The city government previously requested the Commission on Elections (Comelec) head office for an exemption from the election ban but did not receive a response. — JMD (FREEMAN)