Remember the elderly

Coincidence or not, the campaign period and barangay elections falls on the same month when we pay tribute to senior citizens.

In recent days, much was done to honor those who have given the prime of their lives to serving the country whether as workers, traders or, not least, parents and grandparents who nurtured and continue to support today’s youth.

Cebu City’s annual cash gifts to elderly residents is a practice that other locales in the country can emulate. The allowance should continue regardless of who sits in City Hall.

While the policy started with then mayor Tomas Osmeña as a P2,000 dole, generosity – or is it political one-upmanship – has driven it up to P10,000 a year.

Mayor Michael Rama made the release more convenient with his standard of distribution “at your doorstep. ‘ Treasury personnel fan out to barangay halls, where chairs are set up to reduce the agony of standing in line. The seniors who still can’t find time or energy to show up are tracked down at home. We hope the mayor continues to find ways to ensure that distribution of financial aid is hassle-free for those 60 years old and older who are not so mobile.

The distribution of cash aid shouldn’t be used as a political football but village politicians and aspirants know there’s goodwill and votes to be earned in being extra helpful to 60,000 registered seniors in Cebu City in the runup to the barangay polls.

The elderly may not be a vote-rich group, but they have families and extended relatives, who know how to be grateful to the giver.

Last Saturday, Oct. 12, officials of the Commission on Elections took service a step further by preparing a chosen set of senior citizens to use a special precinct dedicated to the elderly and People with Disability.

The pilot precinct in SM City will be used by 97 senior citizens and three PWDs from barangay Mabolo on Oct. 28.

The pilot test gives teeth to the law that mandates setting up “accessible polling places” for the aged and physically challenged who request for them.

AgeWatch, an international organization monitoring conditions of the elderly across the world, recently ranked Sweden as the best place in the world for one to grow old. Afghanistan ranked as the worst.

The Philippines has a long way to go to institutionalize better care of seniors, beyond a 20 percent discount in medicine and services.

Cebu City has a good headstart. Now if only barangay officials would continue to remember the welfare of senior citizens in between the thrice-a-year distribution schedules of the city’s financial aid.