Cash aid for elderly to be given each month, says council

THE distribution of senior citizen’s cash assistance in Cebu City will be done on a monthly basis starting May.

Voting 14 against 1, the members of the Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan (BO-PK)-dominated City Council managed to override a veto which Mayor Michael Rama issued on an approved ordinance, which sets the distribution of senior citizens’ assistance every first Monday of the month.

Rama wanted the distribution of the cash assistance to the elderly on a quarterly basis.

Since the city government had already released P4,000 of the P10,000 assistance, this means that the senior citizens this year will divide the P6,000 balance in 8 monthly releases or P750 per month.

Councilor Augustus Pe Jr., the council’s majority floor leader, warned Rama against violating the approved ordinance during last Wednesday’s session.

Pe said that the council had yet to discuss what action to take should Rama insist on a quarterly release of the aid.

amendment okayed

The councilors earlier approved an amendment to the 2013 budget ordinance introduced by Pe and Councilor Rodrigo Abellanosa, to release the assistance on a monthly basis.

The city’s about 60,000 registered senior citizens are scheduled to receive a total assistance of P10,000 from the city government this year.

Rama, however, vetoed the ordinance amendment and insisted on his decision for the quarterly release of the assistance.

He said that the approved ordinance is “prejudicial to public welfare” and that it was an executive prerogative to set the date for the distribution of the assistance. /Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac