Courting the seniors

Since the Cebu city government paid homage to its centenarian citizens during its 76th Charter Day celebration, maybe Mayor Michael Rama can be given  leeway for pushing through with his plan to order the early release of P2,500 in senior citizens aid   for the first quarter of this year.

(The balance of the total amount of P10,000 would thus be given in three other quarters.)

It’s not only Rama who’s caught up in  generous spirits for the city’s elders. The City Council recently passed a resolution asking the mayor to release the financial aid on a  monthly basis instead so it can be used for  medication needs of the elderly.

However, there is  the little matter of a budget ordinance that was already  passed  allocating the senior citizens aid in June and December.

This  fact was pointed out by Councilor Jose Daluz III, himself a Rama ally, Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young and Acting City Treasurer Emma Villarete, who nevertheless supported Rama’s contention if only to avoid being shunted aside by the mayor like her predecessor.

Cebu City’s tradition  of giving a regular  cash allotment  to senior citizens started during the mayorship of Tomas Osmeña. The amount has increased steadily over the years as well as the number of seniors, some of whom may  have transferred to the city in order to avail of the benefit.

In an election year, the number of registered senior citizens voters reaches  over  100,000 and if one were to consider their extended families—since Pinoy families usually take care of their elder folk and don’t send them to retirement homes like what’s done in the US —their votes do matter.

As Congressman Osmeña and Villarete herself said, the best time to release the senior citizens aid is every six months, when the city’s fiscal status can best afford to accommodate the assistance.

We’re not even talking about the city scholarship program for indigent students and all the infrastructure and programs Rama wanted to accomplish before his first three years in office end four months from now—provided he gets reelected in May.

But Rama is insistent and the council more so, after being told by senior citizens groups about their need for medication. This only goes to show that if they put their minds to it and if they’re pressured to win votes, city officials can set aside their ordinances and find a way to make their constituents happy.

What if another mayor gets to sit in office? Then perhaps a change in the date and amount of aid  will occur and the council this time would give their near-unanimous approval.

We hope city officials are mindful of appropriating city funds in order not to run afoul of the Commission on Audit (COA) and endanger the implementation of other essential projects and programs.