CH won't give P100T aid to family of centenarian

CEBU, Philippines - The bereaved family of a centenarian who died in Barangay Kasambagan fire last month could not anymore claim the P100,000 cash assistance from the city government because of their failure to submit the needed documents for assessment by the Department of Social Welfare and Services.

The family of the late Juanita Cañete Arcaya could not anymore submit the documents asked from them by the city government because these were all razed by fire.

Arcaya was charred to death when a fire gutted her house at St. Michael Village on September 25. She was believed to have fallen asleep while smoking which started the fire.

DSWS head Ester Concha said that the family of Arcaya approached her office before the centenarian died.

"Ang gi-claim sa apo, 100 na siya. So, gihatagan siya og application and the requirements para naa mi'y i-assess last August," she said, adding that no one returned to her office after that encounter.

Under City Ordinance 2235, a centenarian would qualify to receive financial assistance amounting to P100,000 if the senior citizen has been residing in the city for the past 10 years.

Mayor Michael Rama wanted to give the full amount to the family of Arcaya if proven that she is really a centenarian. However, Concha said that the family told her that they could not retrieve the files anymore.

"Had it been nga gibalik nila, among ma-assess didto kupn unsa katinuod nga 100 na gyod siya, mahatagan gyod unta to pero karon, nasunog man apil," Concha said.

She said that Arcaya did not apply for the grant that is why she could not receive the assistance.

"So, nagbasol na sila karon. Sayang gyod siya," Concha said.

Meanwhile, City Councilor Gerardo Carillo has drafted a resolution to give additional cash assistance to the bereaved family of Arcaya.

Carillo, chairperson of the City Council committee on social services, said that an additional P10,000 cash assistance would be of great help to the family of Arcaya.

He said that the assistance is different from the usual P10,000 burial assistance that the city government would extend. The resolution will be passed today for council approval.— (FREEMAN)