Mid-year cash aid to elderly released

CEBU, Philippines - Some 1,500 senior citizens from four barangays in Mandaue City received yesterday their mid-year financial assistance of P1,000 each even as city officials promised to increase it by another P1,000.

This means that more than 10,000 registered senior citizens in the city will receive P3,000 in financial assistance starting this year.

“We in the council agree to increase the assistance to senior citizens,” said Demetrio Cortes, Jr., chair of the Committee on Social Services during the ceremonial distribution held 2 pm at Mandaue City Cultural and Sports Complex.

Mayor Jonas Cortes earlier intimated to increase the assistance as a gesture of gratitude to the contributions and sacrifices of senior citizens in helping develop the city.

Councilor Cortes, the elder brother of the mayor, will initiate the passage of the enabling ordinance for the increase.

Councilor Nenita Layese, a member of the committee on social services, said it is expected that senior citizens will receive the balance of P2,000 by December this year.

Meanwhile, Layese pointed out that some senior citizens in the city take advantage of the P10,000 financial assistance given by neighboring Cebu City by registering also in that city.

Layese said this is against the law and should be corrected.

The distribution held yesterday at the Mandaue City Cultural and Sports Complex for the first batch of beneficiaries from barangays Centro, Cambaro, Guizo, and Mantuyong was orderly and peaceful. (FREEMAN)