103-year-old Toledo man walks up to Cebu governor to raise elderly residents’ concern

Terso Alferes (CDN PHOTO/VICTOR SILVA)

Terso Alferes, 103 years old, traveled 50 kilometers from Toledo City to Cebu City to ask why he has not received any monetary aid from the government while others have gotten theirs.

Alferes walked barefoot to the office of Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III yesterday. He wore a blue-and-white polo shirt, tattered khaki shorts, and was holding a canvas bag where he kept his baptismal certificate to prove he will be turning 104 on Feb. 13, 2015.

“All my cousins who are younger than I am are receiving P50 a month, while I will be 104 soon and yet I have not received any help,” he said in Cebuano.

Before reaching the Capitol, he lost all his money to a pickpocket. Davide gave him money for his fare home and referred his concern to Toledo City Vice Mayor Antonio Yapha. “I’m not asking for money from the governor. I just wanted him to assist me in getting help from the president,” he added.

He showed no sign of other ailments except for his hearing problem and injured toe which prevents him from wearing slippers.

He believes it is “the will of God” that he reached this age.

A resident of barangay Magdugo in Toledo City, Alferes works in a farm owned by barangay captain Juan Climaco Jr. and used his earnings to send two of his grandchildren to school. He traveled alone yesterday. His wife, Natividad, died in 2001 while his six children have their own families.

He earns P200 for three days doing gardening work and plowing fields. When the barangay captain gave him his six days’ worth of earnings last Monday, he was advised to go to the provincial capitol and ask Davide‘ to ask for’s help.

“Mao ni giingon sa akong kapitan: Adtoa ang gobernador. Patabang didto. Ngadto sa Presidente, dali ra maabot atong tingog pinaagi sa gobernador,” the old man recalled. (The barangay captain told me, ‘go to the governor and ask for help. The President will immediately learn of your plight if you course it through the governor.)

Pickpocket

He took the 90-minute bus ride yesterday to Cebu City. He had a meal in what he referred to as a “restaurant” near Freedom Park where he lost his money to a pickpocket.

He then took a jeepney from downtown to the Capitol and asked the driver for a free ride.

He said he had raised his issue with the Department of Social Welfare and Development but was told to just wait.

“Ana sila, huwat daw. Mag 104 na ko, wala lang gihapoy balita,” he said. (They told me to just wait. I’m turning 104, and still, no news.)

Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) personnel escorted him to the bus terminal.

Toledo City Senior Citizens Assocation President Fredo Villarta said the city government is not giving aid to elderly residents.

“I know for a fact that the previous administration gave assistance to seniors, also earlier under the current one,” he said.

He said that the Toledo City Council passed a supplemental budget which included funds for the seniors’ aid but it wasn’t enough, prompting the City Council to delete the item altogether.

Villarta hopes the City Council will pass another supplemental budget to provide for the needs of elders.

The budget mess in the city early this year was also a factor. Records at the Office of Senior Citizen Affairs (OSCA) show that Toledo City has more than 12,000 registered seniors as of September.