Seniors get P3K, thank city for orderly distribution

CEBU, Philippines - Assisted by their daughters, couple Joaquin Navaja, 86, and Engracia Navaja, 85, each claimed their P3,000 financial assistance from the Cebu City government yesterday.

The amount represents the P2,000 as last tranche of the city's cash assistance to the senior citizens and the P1,000 serves as Valentine’s Day gift.

The Barangay Guadalupe residents said they would use the money to buy medicines and food to share with their grandchildren Friday next week, Feb. 14.

"Wa na lang sa nang Valentine’s Day, human na ta ana. Ipalit lang ni namo og tambal ug pagkaon para namo ug sa mga bata (We are passed the age that we still celebrate Valentine’s Day.  We would use the money to buy our medicine and food for us and our children)," said Joaquin, who need to be assisted because of his weak knees.

The senior citizens, including the frail and the sickly, need to personally claim the city's cash aid.

Engracia, who has difficulty in urinating, said the money would help a lot in her medication, too.

The octogenarian couple thanked City Hall for the systematic distribution of the cash assistance, saying they did not line up for long and were able to go home immediately.

Couple Jose and Virginia Po, aged 85 and 75, respectively, also expressed gratitude to Mayor Michael Rama.

"Pakiingon kay Mayor Rama daghan kaayong salamat sa nindot na sistema sa paghatag sa kuwarta. Wala nisaka among BP (Kindly tell Mayor Rama thank you for the orderly distribution of the amount. Our blood pressures did not rise) unlike sa una (before)," said Virginia, who got her money in less than 10 minutes.

Asked if what would they do with the assistance, she said they would use it for her husband's medication, which costs P3,000 a week.

The Navaja and Po couples were among the over 4,200 senior citizens of Barangay Guadalupe, the largest barangay in the city, who claimed their financial assistance yesterday.

The distribution was done this time at the Guadalupe Sports Gym, a more convenient venue than Guadalupe Elementary School, said Engr. Rolando Ardosa, City Department of Public Services head.

Senior citizens in the rest of the city's 80 barangays who qualify for the aid also claimed theirs in their respective barangays.

The cash distribution also went smoothly in Barangay Lahug, the largest barangay in the north district. Of the 2,233 senior citizens registered there, 13 have not yet claimed theirs by 11:30 am.

Lawyer Jose Marie Poblete, who supervised the Lahug distribution, said they managed to control the influx of senior citizens as early as 7 am.

He said some failed to claim their cash aid because they either lost their identification cards (IDs) or failed sign their authorization letters issued in lieu of the IDs.

Jaime Catacutan was among those who lost his ID. He went to the Guadalupe Sports Gym bringing with him with him an Office of the Senior Citizen's Affairs certification that he was registered in Cebu City.

Catacutan, who lost his ID to a pickpocket during the Sinulog last Jan. 19, was told to present the certification to City Hall Tuesday to can claim his share.

City Administrator Lucelle Mercado said the distribution was "very smooth."

"Thanks to the department heads, they were able to distribute orderly and peacefully, and quick. They were able to deliver the 'show of super service,'" she said. (FREEMAN)