Cebu City OSCA chief seeks bigger budget from council

CEBU, Philippines – The Cebu City Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs wants a P13-million budget for 2015 it is appealing for the City Council to carefully go over what it submitted so member could see that the amount is based on the “actual needs of the office.”

Based on City Ordinance 2392 (An Ordinance Creating the Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs, Defining its Scope, Areas and Functions, Appropriating Funds Thereof and Other Purposes), which was passed early this year, the office will only be given P10 million.

“To effectively carry out the functions and objectives of this ordinance, an initial amount equivalent to five million pesos shall hereby be appropriated and included in the next annual budget of the City of Cebu. For regular and effective operation and maintenance, a similar amount of five million pesos shall likewise be appropriated and included in the next annual budget of the City of Cebu,” stated Section 7 of the ordinance.

OSCA Chief Rolando Llaguno, though, said they requested for P13 million instead of just P10 million because the “actual needs of the office” requires a bigger amount.

“We appeal to the members of the Sangguniang Panglungsod of the City of Cebu nga og mahimo ilang kahatagan og tukma nga pagtagad ang budget nga gisumiter sa Senior Citizens Affairs alang sa usa ka epektibo or efficient nga pagpadagan sa opisina,” he said.

He promised that to deliver the “best services to the seniors” if the proposed budget will be approved.

But if the City Council would not grant the amount, he said, at least it would grant what was stipulated in the ordinance.

“Karon manghinaot ta nga kanang P10 million ma- maintain. Kun di mahimo ang P13 million at least ang kanang P10 million,” he said.

Llaguno said they need 1,000 tables, 5,000 chairs and a sound system for their various activities and cameras for documentation.

“Labihang daghana ang gikinahanglan. During the launching of the Senior Citizens Month at Plaza Independencia, where there were no chairs, people were standing. There were more than 3,000 who attended the mass,” he said.

Llaguno said that if OSCA has the said items, it would be easier for them to conduct activities for the elderly.

“Di na mi magsige’g pangita asa mi, unsa among gamiton. We need the sound system kay karon magsige mi’g panghuwam, malukop mi pagpanghuwam,” he said.

OSCA’s functions include serving as a general information and liaison center to serve the needs of the senior citizens, and assisting in investigating fraudulent practices and abuses in the discounts and privileges exclusively granted to senior citizens.  – /RHM (FREEMAN)