‘Glitch-free’ aid distribution for seniors

Clutching a pair of crutches, 65-year-old Martin Racho waited patiently in line to receive his P2,000 cash assistance at the Guadalupe public school yesterday.

The jeepney dispatcher, whose right leg was broken in a vehicular accident, said he was disappointed not to get the full P4,000 cash balance for senior citizens but hopes it will come next month.

“Paabot lang mi kanus-a ihatag. Ang-ang og mamugos ko. (We’ll just wait for the release of the remaining P2,000. We can’t force the city to release it now),” he told Cebu Daily News.

Racho, who has four children, said he usually uses the cash to buy rice and household needs.

Cebu city residents aged 60 or more are entitled to receive P10,000 a year from the city government. Next year, the amount will be raised to P12,000.

RAIN

Despite the rain, many senior citizens showed up at the elementary school of barangay Guadalupe, the largest barangay in the city.

Some brought umbrellas and canes. One elderly man was on a wheelchair.

The City Treasurers Office (CTO) set aside P120 million for yesterday’s distribution which started at 8 a.m.

In each center, one disbursing officer was assigned for every 100 to 150 senior citizens.

Barangay Guadalupe, which has 5,000 senior citizens, had about 40 disbursing officers.

The disbursing officers went to the north district in the morning then served the south district in the afternoon.

Elderly residents who couldn’t collect their P2,000 have to claim their share in the treasurer’s office in City Hall on Monday.

“The distribution was quick, smooth, peaceful and orderly inside the centers. The seniors were happy and thankful for the orderly system,” said City Administrator Jose Marie Poblete.

He said 70 percent to 80 percent of the seniors were able to claim their assistance as of 3 p.m. in a glitch-free process.

Some disbursing officers left early when only a trickle of beneficiaries came after a few hours.

There was an hour-long congestion when some privately owned vehicles ferried seniors to the Banilad Elementary School.

Anita Castillanes, 76, said she understood why the full P4,000 balance couldn’t be given right away by City Hall.

“I’m grateful for the this assistance. We didn’t work for this and yet we were given this amount,” she said.

“I’ll keep the money so I’ll have something to buy medicine and food.”

Castillanes, who has pneumonia, lives with two of her seven children.

Balance

Cebu City has 60,000 registered senior citizens.

For this year’s P10,000 assistance, an amount of P4,000 was released in March, and P2,000 in September.

Acting City Treasurer Diwa Cuevas said she’s waiting for more revenue in the city coffers and instructions from Mayor Michael Rama. /Ador Vincent Mayol and Doris C. Bongcac