Cebu City senior citizens get P2K today

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama intends the second distribution of this year’s cash aid for senior citizens scheduled today to be so smooth it would have “zero complaints”.

“There should be an objective. Distribution should finish fast, swift, and (done) quickly,” Rama told reporters.

This early, however, detractors are already raising some fuss, calling the distribution “politicking”.

  “Gituyo ni niya (Rama) kay pamolitika. We cannot allow this to continue,” said former mayor Tomas Osmeña, whom Rama defeated in the elections last May. Osmeña led a gathering of around 30 BOPK-allied barangay officials yesterday.

 Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) President Michael Ralota agreed with Osmeña, saying the distribution is “klaro kaayo nga pamolitika” (clearly for politicking).

“Ipanghatag unta ng (They should give the) allowance not to boost the names kadtong kaalyado nga mga konsehal ni (of those city councilors allied with) Rama,” Ralota said.

Osmeña said the allowances are being distributed as strategy for Rama’s allies to gain votes in the Oct. 28 barangay elections.

Yesterday, Rama announced that department heads will be handling the distribution, which be held at barangay halls, sports complexes, schools, and even church grounds.

“The whole distribution of the financial assistance is the primary responsibility of the City hall. I wish people will be able to understand the different strokes, or the set-up we would use,” Rama said.

Executive Assistant to the Mayor and former councilor Joey Daluz said they tapped people that they trust to man the distribution to avoid sabotage, which the administration said happened in the distribution last March.

He said the roles of the barangay officials are to provide seats and tables for the senior citizens and department heads.

“Wa may balaod nga kinahanglan ang moatiman mohatag og assistance kay ang mga barangay officials gyod (There is no law which stipulates that it should be the barangay officials who must distribute the amount),” Rama said.

Osmeña, on the other hand, said it is not also mentioned in the local government code that distribution of allowances would only be made by the people whom you trust.

The mayor, though, wants everything smooth so he wants those assisting him are only those on whom he is confident with.

Senior citizens of the north district would receive their allowance today while those in the south district would get theirs tomorrow.

As discussed during the coordination meeting Wednesday, department heads would oversee the disbursement in every barangay, specifically by holding the master list of names.

He said that contrary to claims, no priority numbers were given ahead of schedule and that distribution is on a first come first served basis.

Senior citizens duly registered and recognized by the Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) will each be receiving P2,000. The first tranche of the P10,000 annual cash aid to the elderly amounting to P4,000 was given last March.

Rama had announced that the remaining P4,000 would be handed out during Christmas.

He also said that he neither banning nor encouraging barangay election candidates from being visible at the distribution.

“But they would have to behave, especially that the instructions to the police is to apprehend those nga magsinamok (who meddle),” Rama said.

On the possibility of sabotage, Rama said doing it would be those people’s downfall.

 â€œKung magbuhat sila ana, samot sila dili kadaug. Kung dunay mga pahibalo or instruction sa field, ang solusyon ra gyud ana kay rekorida ug megaphone kay aron madungog sa kadaghanan,” the mayor said.

Meanwhile, Comelec-7 Regional Director Temie Lambino said he could not comment on the “legality” of the distribution of the allowance this election season because it is the local government officials’ prerogative.

For his part, City Attorney Jerone Castillo defended the distribution, saying the cash aid “has nothing to do with elections.”

“There is already clamor from the senior citizens. The City Government is merely responding to this clamor. As the mayor said, this cash aid was intended to be given as both birthday and Christmas gift,” he said.—(FREEMAN)