The seniors were treated like VIPs. A volunteer would greet them “Maayong hapon” and each senior would be escorted all the way to the claims desk where city hall workers were waiting to process the release of the second tranche of the P10,000 cash aid which the Cebu City government gives out to the city’s senior citizens. The first installment of P4,000 for each senior citizen beneficiary was handed out last March.
The volunteers in green were no ordinary do-gooders.
Cebu Daily News later learn that they were members of Team Arguedo, a group of local politicians who are reportedly standing for elections in the October 28 barangay polls.
Team Arguedo is reportedly led by lawyer Daniel Arguedo who is said to be gunning for the captaincy of barangay Mabolo.
The green and yellow color motif of Team Arguedo has the same shade and hue as Mayor Michael Rama’s Team Rama.
Incumbent barangay captain Rey Ompoc is not happy with the smiling volunteers’ presence.
Ompoc, the ward leader of the Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan in barangay Mabolo, questioned why his would-be rival was able to get hold of a copy of the master list of senior citizens in his fiefdom.
He claimed Arguedo and his allies were also seen handing out priority numbers among other handouts to senior citizens who went to the Mabolo Elementary School yesterday afternoon.
City Administrator Jose Marie Poblete said they did not authorize anybody to give out priority numbers because the distribution of the cash aid to seniors was on a “first come, first serve basis”.
During a dialogue with editors, columnists and radio commentators on Thursday, Mayor Rama said only city hall department heads and employees are authorized to take part in the distribution of the cash aid.
“The affair on the seniors distribution is a city hall affair,” he said.
Rama however said it cannot be avoided that some politicians would take advantage of the gathering of senior citizens to promote their interests.
The mayor said the last tranche of the P10,000 cash assistance would be distributed by December in time for Christmas.
A total of P121 million was set aside from the city’s budget to fund the P2,000 dole-out for each of the 59,600 senior citizen residents who are registered with Osca.
The Cebu City government yesterday released the city’s financial assistance to seniors in the north district while the distribution for the south district is scheduled today.
Early bird
Sofia Casas arrived at the Cebu City hall shortly after 6am yesterday. She was even ahead of government employees.
But to her disappointment, Casas was told by a personnel at the Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs (Osca) that she was not among those who were scheduled to receive the cash dole out from City Hall.
The 61-year-old retiree, who registered with Osca in 2012, had no other choice but to fill up another set of forms to facilitate the release of the P2,000 which senior citizen residents of Cebu City received yesterday.
“Maayo na lang unta na ang kwarta para ipalit ug bugas ug sinina sa akong apo,” she said referring to her granddaughter Marilyn who accompanied her at city hall yesterday
(I’ll use the money to buy rice and dress for my granddaughter).
Casas of barangay Tejero was in a hurry to fill up the registration form so she and Marilyn could go home. She said that they were already hungry as they only had coffee and a piece of bread for breakfast.
Eager to receive their cash assistance, seniors started crowding distribution centers which were mostly situated in covered basketball courts and schools.
The distribution of cash started at 7 a.m. and continued until noon.
The distribution center for seniors in barangay San Roque was moved from the barangay’s sports complex to Plaza Independencia.
Arleigh Gesta of the parks and playgrounds commission who supervised the distribution of cash aid at barangay San Roque said that Plaza Independencia was more convenient and is more accessible than the barangay sports complex.
Councilor George Avila approached Gesta yesterday morning to inform him that some of the senior residents where waiting at the barangay gym where previous distributions were made. But Gesta told him that they will have to be advised to go to the plaza.
City administrator Poblete said that as of noon yesterday about 90 percent of the north district recipients already got their P2,000 cash. He said that in the afternoon, city hall personnel will be visiting the residences of bedridden seniors to personally give their share.
Stay at home
For south district seniors who are ill, Poblete advised them to just stay at home because city hall personnel will visit them.
“Ug dili kaya sa lawas, ayaw na lang mo ug gawas kay simbako naay mahitabo. Basta naa lang mo sa lista adtoon ra mo sa inyoha,” he said addressing the seniors.
(If you’re not feeling well, just stay home. As long as you’re listed, we will go to you.)
Among the 46 north district barangays, distribution in barangay Mabolo was moved from Friday morning to afternoon since the elementary school’s covered court was used for a school activity in the morning.
Distribution in Mabolo started at 1 pm and contributed to the traffic congestion in a portion of MJ Cuenco Avenue since a city hall bus was parked in front of the school gate which obstructed the flow of traffic in the area.