Minglanilla Mayor says 'yes': Seniors move to city to avail of cash aid?

CEBU, Philippines - Minglanilla Mayor Elanito Peña admitted some of the senior citizens in his town are moving to Cebu City in the hope of getting the yearly P12,000 financial assistance from the city government.

But Peña said he understands why some of the senior citizens are doing this.

He was reacting to the statement made by Cebu Provincial Federation of Senior Citizens claiming that senior citizens from Minglanilla are transferring to Cebu City to avail of the hefty financial assistance being offered by the city to senior citizens.

Minglanilla, which is situated at the southeastern coast of Cebu, is about 15 kilometers from Cebu City and is a first class municipality since the late 90s.

Amid transfer reports, Peña said he is not worried this might affect their population and not qualify to become a city.

Minglanilla is home to 3,900 senior citizens. A 2010 survey showed the town's population was at 113,178.

Under the Local Government Code, for a town to become a city, it has to have a land area of not less than 100 square kilometers. Also, the law requires that a municipality may be converted into a component city only if it meets two of three requirements: locally generated average annual income of P100 million for the last two consecutive years, contiguous territory of at least 100 square kilometers or a population of not less than 150,000 inhabitants.

Peña reiterated he understands senior citizens from his town who are lured to transfer to Cebu City. He said he has nothing against it.

Peña said their town could not afford giving P12,000 financial assistance to the senior citizens.

He said the municipal government often gives P500 in cash gift to senior citizens, as well as other kinds of aid, including giving them incentives on occasions.

In Cebu City, the financial assistance given to the senior citizens started back in 2009 during the term of then mayor Tomas Osmeña.

Back then, those who qualify for the cash aid had to be registered voters of the city who voted during the 2007 and 2010 elections. (FREEMAN)