Seniors have until today to claim P3T cash gift

CEBU, Philippines – Cebu City’s senior citizens better run fast to the distribution centers because City Hall has changed its mind.  It is giving the P3,000 financial assistance for them only up to today due to “lack of time.”

Supposedly, based on the guidelines on seniors’ cash aid distribution, they have 15 days to claim the amount before it will be forfeited. The distribution started yesterday.

City Treasurer Diwa Cuevas said they must be given time to liquidate the finances of the city government considering that there are only few days left before the year ends.

“We have only one day—tomorrow (today). (We have to) give time to the disbursing officers to liquidate kay otherwise ma closing na man gud,” she said.

Cuevas said the 15 days is only applicable when there is enough time.

“Kanang 15 days is only applicable kung dili ta  mag-closing (of the books). Kun pananglit mag 15 days luoy kaayo ang disbursing officers. Atong giprotekta-han atong mga disbursing officers nga maka-liquidate gyud kung dili gyud ka li-quidate naay daghan pa kaayo tang pending,” she explained.

Including the P3,000, Cebu City’s senior citizens have already received P10,000 of the total P12,000 promised to them for this year.

Cuevas said the remaining P2,000 would be released in the early part of next year.

“Of course it will be next year. If I have my way, second week para sa Sinulog,” Cuevas told The FREEMAN.

She assured that the senior citizens should not worry on this because the city government would not renege on the promise to give the remaining balance.

“Ayaw lang gyud na ninyo problemaha kay last year bitaw 2014 na baya nato nahatag tanan,” she said.

Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs Chief Rolando Llaguno also assured that the city government has already earmarked the remaining amount so it would surely be given next year.

Cuevas said the city has enough funds for the P2,000.

“Dili man ma-bankrupt ang siyudad uy, dili gyud ma-bankrupt. Mo-start na ta sa collections sa business permit,” she said.

Meanwhile, cash aid distribution in Barangay Mabolo was delayed because of alleged inconsistency of the instructions.

Cuevas and Mabolo Councilman Elmer Cui said that, supposedly, in claiming the cash aid, the seniors were not required to get the signature of either the councilor or of the cluster president of the senior citizens in the barangay. However, yesterday, the disbursing officer required them to have it.

“Ang nahitabo ang atong disbursing officer sad wala modawat og walay signature mao tong namalik nasad kay magpapirma,” Cuevas said.

She said the senior citizens, upon arriving in their respective barangays’ distribution centers, should get a number based on the payroll, so they would go to a certain disbursing officer assigned their number. – /RHM (FREEMAN)