Archival benches council’s plea to allow other IDs for seniors’ aid

CEBU, Philippines — The original Office of Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA)-issued card remains the sole basis for claiming the financial aid tomorrow, as Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival said he will look into the council’s plea to allow alternative government IDs to be presented instead.

“We will look into that because there is a law… and everytime you do something nga medyo mu deviate kag gamay, sawayon naman pud ka,” Archival explained during an interview with reporters yesterday.

“So meaning, ang ako lang ug unsay sakto, maoy atong buhaton… because muhimo tag deviation para lang sa kaayuhan sa uban, unya pagkahuman, of course, kita na say dauton… I don’t think it’s a good idea,” he added.

The mayor’s remarks came after Councilor Pastor “Jun” Alcover, in a privilege speech last Tuesday, urged the City Council to request supplemental guidelines to Executive Order No. 077, which requires senior citizens to present their original OSCA ID to claim aid.

This rule did not sit well with Alcover, who said it was too “rigid.”

He said many elderly residents have lost or damaged their cards and should be allowed to use other government-issued IDs or OSCA certifications.

“A lost identification card should not become a reason to deprive a qualified senior citizen of assistance,” said Alcover.

Councilor Jose Lorenzo Abellanosa, during the discussion, however, reminded the body that the council had already passed an ordinance supplementary to the Expanded Senior Citizens Act, requiring establishments to honor any government-issued ID that bears a senior citizen’s birthdate.

Alcover then said that this was City Ordinance No. 2699, enacted during the term of then-Mayor Michael Rama.

Councilor Sisinio Andales, for his part, added historical context, recalling that the amended ordinance on aid distribution was vetoed by the mayor, with the City Legal Office affirming the veto as valid to protect public funds.

“If my proposal before was to override the veto, then we could not have this question before us,” Andales said.

Alcover clarified that his complaint was specifically about the refusal to accept IDs other than the original OSCA card.

He noted that while the quarterly distribution of financial assistance had already been approved, the unresolved issue remained the authorization process.

“Ang akong reklamo ang dili pagdawat sa laing ID except sa original ID of the senior citizens,” he said, adding that he understood there was already an ordinance recognizing other IDs, as Abellanosa pointed out.

Councilor Philip Zafra defended the executive order, saying the OSCA ID was designed to securely verify identity.

“With the advent of technology anybody can just fake their ID,” he said.

Zafra, however, acknowledged Alcover’s concern and suggested that the executive department modify the rule to include valid government IDs as an option.

He later moved for a corollary motion requesting the mayor to consider such IDs and stressed:

“This is not to lisod-lisuron ang senior citizens, but this is also to protect their own identity as well as that of the government.” — (IHM) (FREEMAN)