Probe distribution of elderly cash aid

Former Quiot barangay captain Jun Ramos (CDN PHOTO / MARGARETTE MANAGAYTAY)

The Cebu City Council is asking the Office of the Ombudsman to investigate last Sunday’s holding of the city’s distribution of financial assistance for senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs) in private areas like the house of a former barangay official.

The City Council approved yesterday the resolution sponsored by Councilor Joy Pesquera which cited a post by Cebu Daily News describing the distribution of the P1,000 financial assistance for the elderly as being done in the house of former Quiot barangay captain Jun Ramos.

“I believe it’s improper to have it in the house of a private individual as there are barangay, government facilities that are very much available at that time. It’s just that they want to use it for politics,” she said.

Pesquera filed the proposed resolution after the privilege speech of Councilor Pastor Alcover Jr., who cited the inconveniences the senior citizens experienced due to the change of venue.

Alcover cited as an example Barangay Guba wherein the elderlies and PWDs were made to stay outside the Guba Community Hospital, without any shade from the heat of the sun, while waiting for their turn to collect their assistance where in fact, he said there is a barangay sports complex readily available for use for the distribution.

Priority numbers also had to be given by the members of the Barangay Mayor’s Office (BMO) to the beneficiaries which were an added hassle considering that it was a first-come, first served basis for the distribution done by the previous administration.

He also cited Barangay Agsungot where the new venue was situated in a low-lying part of the barangay and the beneficiaries had to walk down a steep pathway to reach it.

The Council passed the resolution — with eight councilors voted for its passage while four others were against it.