Cebu - Councilor Gerardo Carillo, as well as his colleagues in the Cebu City Council, vowed “not to approve any barangay annual appropriation ordinance if there is no item setting a fund for the senior citizens.”
“Specifically is that one percent of the entire annual budget for the barangay should go to the said sector,” he said.
Carillo gave this assurance to over a hundred members of the Federation of Senior Citizens Associations of the Philippines here in the city who met recently to discuss plans on the soon-to-be-implemented allocation from the barangay.
Carillo, who initiated the gathering, said that the senior citizens from various barangays in the north and south districts are given the chance to plan their respective projects and activities for the year.
The provision on the one-percent allocation is mandated under Republic Act 9257, otherwise known as the Magna Carta for Senior Citizens.
Councilor Jose Daluz, head of the committee on finance in the Council, said he will enforce strictly the provision.
Shalaine Lucero of the Department of Social Welfare and Development was present to give the senior citizens a refresher on RA 9257.
So far, since the effectivity of the Magna Carta, only barangay Labangon is implementing the provision with FSCAP national president Felix Abella.
FSCAP-Cebu City is led by Mr. Guillermo Casinillo. — Ferliza C. Contratista/MEEV (THE FREEMAN)