Seniors to receive P2K before Christmas day

CEBU City’s elderly residents will get another P2,000 from the city government before Christmas.
City Hall has scheduled the release of the cash dole on December 20 and 21.
Mayor Michael Rama however, refused to say when City Hall would release the remaining balance of P2,000.
“I do not have to add reasons.  Just wait for the time to come,” he told reporters.
The city government gives P10,000 to each registered senior citizen resident every year.
The first tranche of P4,000 was released in March or before the start of the campaigning for the local elections while the second installment of P2,000 was given in September, or a month before the barangay elections.
OIC city treasurer Diwa Cuevas said the city government was unable to raise the P240 million needed to fund the P4,000 unreleased amount, but City Hall was able to source funds for half of the amount.
“We still have several collectibles before the year ends,” she said.
Cuevas said they are looking at the Filinvest payables of about P400 million among others, to take care of the city’s other payables before yearend.
Mayor Rama said he already gave instructions to the City Treasurers Office to already process the payroll for the release of another P2,000 to the seniors come December 20 and 21.
Distribution will still be done in the respective barangays as practiced.
“Why fix it (change the procedure) when it ain’t broken,” he said.
Rama said that the distribution of the P2,000 cash assistance could not be done in time for the city-sponsored “Pasalamat ni Lola ug Lolo” on Wednesday because of time constraints.
Aside from the seniors aid, Rama also wanted the P2,000 balance of this year’s P5,000 assistance to Persons With Disability (PWD) released next week.
“Everything will be attended to as circumstances will be met,” he said. /Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac