Borongan City seniors get hike in monthly allowance

Borongan City, Eastern Samar map. INQUIRER FILES

TACLOBAN CITY — Senior citizens in Borongan City, Eastern Samar are set to receive an increase in their monthly monetary allowance starting January 2025.

Under Ordinance Number 295, which was passed and approved by the city council on Nov. 22, 2024, and signed by Mayor Jose Ivan Dayan Agda on Dec. 16, 2024, the monthly allowance for eligible senior citizens was increased to P1,000 from the previous amount of P500.

The new measure is expected to benefit more than 5,800 senior citizens in the city or those aged 60 and above.

The initiative, authored by Councilor Lyra Gel Devora, aims to support the elderly population of the city amid the rising inflation and the increasing cost of living.

“This significant adjustment demonstrates the city government’s commitment to enhancing the well-being of our senior citizens and ensuring they live with dignity,” Devora said.

The ordinance builds on City Ordinance No. 210 passed in 2021 which first institutionalized monetary aid for senior citizens.

It aligns with Borongan City’s broader commitment to prioritizing the welfare of its elderly population.

“The city government of Borongan recognizes the importance of providing sufficient support to senior citizens, ensuring that their rights and welfare are protected and that they can live with dignity,” the ordinance read.

To ensure the program remains sustainable and relevant, the ordinance mandates an annual review of the allowance with active consultation involving senior citizens’ groups.

This participatory approach ensures that the voices of the elderly are heard and considered in future policy decisions.

With more than 5,800 beneficiaries, the city government emphasized that the program is designed to remain aligned with its fiscal capacity, ensuring that the financial support provided is both adequate and sustainable.

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