PWDs want more cash aid from CH

CEBU, Philippines - With the senior citizens getting a recent increase in their cash assistance, Cebu City’s differently-abled individuals are now asking the same from Mayor Michael Rama.

Speaking in behalf of their group, Danny Omayan, president of the city’s Persons With Disability (PWD) Federation, said if the city can easily grant an increase to the senior citizens, they are also hoping for a little increase to their annual cash assistance.

In view of the celebration of the National Prevention and Rehabilitation Week, a PWD program, the city is set to release at least P12 million at the end of this month to be distributed to the 6,233 PWD members who will each get P2,000 from the said fund.

The city has about 12,000 PWD, but Omayan said around 5,000 of this number have yet to be vali-dated, for them to avail of the government’s perks.

“Dako ang increase sa senior citizens, so kung pwede lang unta, himuon ang amoa bisag P5,000 or P7,000, (There is a huge increase for senior citizens so we are also hoping to get P5,000 or P7,000.)” Omayan said.

The city has recently increased the PWD’s cash assistasnce this year to P1,000, which they will get in December.

Rama said he will have the request studied, but reminded the PWDF members that the senior citizens deserve to get more, being at the prime of their lives.

“Ayaw mo kaguol kung mas taas ang sa senior citizen kay maabot ra ta diha, (Don’t worry if the senior citizens are getting more, we’ll get there too.)” the mayor joked.

He told the PWDF members, who were present during his regular press conference at his office, that unlike the senior citizens, their needs to get additional cash gifts are “not as urgent” considering that they still have so many years ahead of them.

Rama however assured them he will study their request, as he also believes that if the city will give another increase it will then be on a case-to-case basis as the needs of each PWD vary.

— (FREEMAN)