CEBU, Philippines - Family members of 101-year-old Juanita Cañete Arcaya, who died in a fire in Barangay Kasambagan, Cebu City late last month, complained before the Department of Social Welfare and Services why they could not claim the P100,000 cash assistance from the city government when the documents needed are intact and complete.
“It is not fair for DSWS to say that we did not submit the documents asked from us since we have complied the requirements,” Arcaya’s granddaughter Sylvia Sim told The Freeman yesterday.
Arcaya was laid to rest yesterday morning at Cebu Memorial Park in Mandaue City.
Under City Ordinance 2235, the centenarian should be a resident of the city for the past 10 years in order to qualify for the P100,000 financial incentive from the City. The centenarians will also be given a plaque as acknowledgement and honor to them.
Sim reacted to the statement of DSWS head Ester Concha that Arcaya’s family did not submit the needed documents for assessment and that they could no longer submit such documents asked from them as these were all razed by the fire.
Sim also belied Concha’s statement that she was told by the family that they could not retrieve the files anymore.
“We have all the documents and requirements to prove that my lola is 101 years old and these were even notarized by a lawyer. We submitted it to their office but days after, it was returned to us kay pasuwaton mi og write-ups bahin sa akong lola, a sort of a biography, pero kompleto among dokumeto nga mahatag ug maipakita nila,” Sim insisted.
Arcaya was killed after a fire engulfed her house at St. Michael Village, Barangay Kasambagan on September 25. She was believed to have fallen asleep while smoking a cigarette, which started the fire.
According to Sim, they will return to the City Hall and seek for the assistance of Councilor Lea Ouano-Japson, who is now the chairperson of the committee on social services.
Mayor Michael Rama wanted to give the full amount to the family of Arcaya if proven that she is really a centenarian.
Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella, who authored CO 2235, said that Arcaya’s family can still avail the P100,000 aid even if she is already dead, as long as it is proven that she was 101 years old at the time of her death. (FREEMAN)