Council okays incentives for ‘super seniors’

CEBU, Philippines —  The Cebu City Council has passed an ordinance conferring plaque of recognition and granting cash incentives to qualified octogenarian, nonagenarian, and centenarian residents of Cebu City.

Authored by Councilors Eugenio Gabuya, Lea Japson, and Raymond Alvin Garcia, the ordinance is entitled “Octogenarian, Nonagenarian, and Centenarian Ordinance of 2020.”

Gabuya said the ordinance aims to provide the cash incentives to qualified senior citizens in an installment manner.

“Ang ato gud ani kay ang kani atong mga senior citizens, at the age of 100 makadawat sila og P100,000 (from the city government)… Daghan man gud mga senior citizen usahay nga di kaabot sa 100, unya inig abot sa 80, daghan-daghan na gyud na ang gibati nga sakit-sakit,” said Gabuya.

As defined, octogenarian refers to seniors aged 80-89; nonagenarian refers to seniors aged 90-99; and centenarian refers to seniors aged 100.

Gabuya said when seniors reach the octogenarian age, they will receive an initial amount of P5,000.

When they qualify for the nonagenarian age, they will receive P15,000.

The remaining P80,000 will be provided once the seniors reach the age of 100.

Gabuya said that if a senior is already 90-99 years old and it is his/her first time to avail of the assistance, he/she will receive P20,000 as the aid for the octogenarian will also be counted.

He said the ordinance could really help the seniors in buying their needs such as medicine.

“Maayo nalang kaayo ni nila gyud kay aron magamit gyud ni sa atong mga senior citizen,” he said.

Initially, Gabuya said, the city will need an amount of P50 million for the implementation of the ordinance which will be included in the annual budget.

He said the measure will possibly be implemented by next year.

The Office of the Senior Citizens’ Affairs (OSCA) is assigned for its enforcement. — GMR (FREEMAN)