No release date yet for final tranche of seniors’ aid

CEBU, Philippines - While Cebu City officials assure that each senior citizens would receive the remaining P4,000 in financial assistance balance within the month, there is no date of distribution yet.

With Christmas just 14 days away, Mayor Michael Rama still has not come up with a date following a meeting with key executive officials.

“I’ll meet with them this week (to set the date),” Rama told a press conference yesterday.

He was referring to City Administrator Jose Marie Poblete, OIC City Treasurer Diwa Cuevas, and Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) head Rolando Llaguno as the ones who should join him in the meeting.

Cuevas, though, assured that each senior citizens would definitely receive a total P10,000 in annual financial assistance for this year.

“Kaya kaayo nga mahatag ang (We are very much capable of giving the) financial assistance. Atong pangitaan ug paagi (We will find a way). But as to the date of the distribution, it will be decided upon in a meeting with the mayor this week,” she told The FREEMAN.

Cuevas said tax collection is sufficient to provide the fund source for the financial assistance.

“For December, we set a target of P100 million, excluding the (payment of) some delinquencies. So far, we are at 30 percent (of that amount) and taas pa ang month.  (We are) confident ra ta nga makaya ra na (we can meet the target),” she said.

Over 60,000 senior citizens would be treated by the City to a Christmas Party Wednesday next week at the Cebu City Coliseum.

Llaguno earlier expressed hopes that the distribution would be during the said party, but the mayor said the date has yet to be decided as the City has to take into consideration the availability of funds.

Rama earlier denied announcing and setting the date of distribution. (FREEMAN)