Senior in wheelchair claims aid in City Hall

CEBU, Philippines - Even though the Office of the Senior Citizens Association head earlier said that financial assistance for bedridden and wheelchair-bound senior citizens will be brought to their respective houses, several non-ambulatory seniors citizen had to be brought to City Hall by their relatives to claim the money.

"Diri mi gahapon (December 26) pero gipangayoan mi og Barangay Certificate nga nagpamatuod nga bedridden," said Rholl Ferolino, a daughter of a bedridden senior citizen.

Ferolino said she brought the ID card of her mother, Aquilina Maraasin, 89, to claim the money as mandated by OSCA but it was allegedly not enough.

Aquilina is already confined to a wheelchair.

Ferolino heard suggestions from the relatives of other senior citizens who also went to City Hall, to just bring her mother herself to City Hall to easily claim the money.

 "Dugay pa man kuno ang process if mangayo pa og barangay certificate. Mao to nga amo na lang gidala diri," she said.

Yesterday, when she brought her mother to City Hall, they were immediately entertained by government personnel.

Despite what happened, she said she understood why the government was strict.

"Okay ra man sad. Daghan man gud magbinuang karon mao nga di na siguro sila motuo dayon," she said.

 However, OSCA head Rolando Llaguno and Tita Cesa of the Cebu City Treasurer's Office, denied that they asked for a Barangay Certificate.

"It's only the identification card of the senior citizen," Llaguno said.

When asked why a bedridden senior citizen was brought to City Hall to claim the money, he said the relatives of the senior could have asked first to check if it was necessary.

"I don't know. Ang naka apan man gud sa mga tawo dili mo-inquire," he said.

Cesa said last Thursday and Friday they already distributed financial assistance to bedridden senior citizens in their houses, as per their schedule. When  asked if there would be any extension for this special distribution, she said Friday was the last day.

"Gamay na man lang ang time. Hapit na sad mahuman ang tuig," Cesa said.

Senior citizens received P2,000 this month as the last installment of their financial assistance this year.  (FREEMAN)