Senior treats self with burger after receiving city’s assistance

CEBU, Philippines - After two years of waiting, Carmelita Magdadaro, 62, felt like she was in cloud nine after receiving financial assistance from Cebu City government for the first time.

Magdadaro, of Barangay Lorega-San Miguel, immediately treated herself with hamburger. She was one of the 3,900 senior citizens who received the P1,000 as first tranche of the P12,000 annual assistance from the city government.

She said she was happy seeing her name finally on the list of the payroll after two years of waiting.

“Lipay kaayo ko kay at last, nakakuha nako’s hinabang sa siyudad diri namong mga tiguwang. Grabe kaayo kalipay kay 2013 pa gud ko nagparehistro,” she said.

Magdadaro said that her money will be used for the medication of her husband and for everyday consumption.

“Pero ako usa ning gahinan nga mopalit gyud ko og burger kay wala pa ko kakaon ana,” she said, adding that she is very thankful to the city government for giving assistance to elderly.

Mayor Michael Rama said that he is happy seeing the elderly pleased with the aid from the city government.

“Their happiness is my happiness,” he said.

Rama also clarified that the proposal for senior citizens to shell out part of their financial assistance for the reconstruction of the Cebu City Medical Center never came from him.

The mayor said that it is the Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs that proposed to him the possibility.

The new chief of OSCA, Dominggo Chavez, said the proposal will not be pursued anymore.

Whether or not the entire P12,000 will be given within the year, Rama said it will depend on the availability of funds. He added that the city government has many other obligations.

Last year, Rama vowed to give P12,000 financial assistance to the elderly. City administrator Lucelle Mercado said that those who have not claimed their assistance on Wednesday can claim it at the City Treasurer’s Office starting today. They have 15 days from yesterday to claim it. — (FREEMAN)