P3,000 aid in time for Christmas; P2,000 more before Sinulog

SENIORS STILL  GRATEFUL

Many were happy with the holiday-time cash, some were dismayed.

Yesterday’s distribution of P3,000 cash assistance to senior citizens in Cebu City drew mixed reactions from the elderly.
Eutiquia Romarate, 81, of barangay Lahug said the amount – part of a P5,000 last installment from the city government – was enough for her.

“Okay ra man. Maayo na lang kay naa tay magamit para Pasko (It’s okay. At least I have something to spend for Christmas),” she told Cebu Daily News.

She was looking forward to the full P5,000 tranche today to buy  paint and floor mats for her newly renovated bedroom.

With the lesser amount, she said she would buy milk, vitamins and liniment oils for the family, and maybe a new blouse and sandals for herself.

Ma. Dulce Ponce, 86,  of barangay Tisa said she’s counting on Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama to keep his promise to release the P2,000 balance next month.

“At least naa gihapon tay madawat. Ang uban nga mga lugar gani kay wala (At least we still get something. Other areas don’t have this privilege),” she told CDN.

Cebu City gives the largest allowance for senior citizens living in the city – P12,000 a year. The amount has been released in P2,000 tranches in the past months to about 57,000 registered residents who are 60 years old or older.

CRISP BILLS

Crisp P500 and P1,000 bills were handed out in barangay centers across the city yesterday.

Married couple Rudolfo and Marita Arcamo of barangay Lahug, said they were hoping to receive the full P5,000 installment so they could pay their debts and have something left over  for Christmas.

“Kuwang ra gyud ang P6,000 nga amo nadawat para namo duha,” said 66-year-old Marita.
(Six thousand pesos for the both of us is not enough.)

She said they had to pay a debt of P6,500 right away for the maintenance medicines of her husband, who was temporarily paralyzed after he slipped and suffered a spine injury.

A doctor prescribed her  67-year-old spouse Neurobion 5000  to be taken for life.  A tablet costs P55.  Fortunately, Rudolfo can now walk with crutches.

They live with one of their married children, but the family can barely make ends meet as the elderly couple has no other means of income.

Sometimes, they make do with rice and coffee for a meal, said Marita.

“Gatuo mi nga naa miy extra kwarta karon Pasko, (We thought we could have extra money this Christmas),” Marita added.

RELEASE IN JANUARY

OIC City Treasurer Diwa Cuevas said the balance of P2,000 can be released by the second week of January 2015 or before the Sinulog.

She said the treasury has prepared a payroll for this.

This is what the city can afford considering that it fell short of their  target revenue of P5.89 billion this year, with only P4.65 billion collected by the the end of November, she said.

Mayor Rama confirmed this, saying the city treasurer was the expert in the city’s finances, not the City Council.

In their regular session last week, the council was shocked to find out that a time deposit was withdrawn for a P300 million outlay set aside for the construction of a new Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC) in order to  fund the last stage cash assistance of  senior citizens  and other obligations of the city for the year end.

Some councilors were alarmed, saying the fund juggling could be a sign of financial hardship of Cebu City.

Yesterday’s distribution in barangay centers was generally smooth and peaceful, said  Rolando Llaguno, who heads the Office of the Senior Citizens (OSCA).

As of last night, more than 5,000 senior citizens were not yet able to collect their share for various reasons.

They have only until today to catch up and claim their cash assistance at City Hall since the City Treasurer’s Office (CTO) has to close its books for 2014.

REPLY

Meanwhile, the City Legal Office sent a formal reply to lawyer Reymelio Delute’s demand letter that the city government release the P5,000 balance for seniors in full.

They clarified that the city treasurer didn’t issue a certificate of availability of funds of the seniors assistance when the 2014 annual budget ordinance was passed last year.

“What the city treasurer issued was a certification as to sources of funds or resources which are to be used for appropriation in an annual budget ordinance. In accordance with laws and existing guidelines, such certification of the city treasurer is based on projections as to collection of revenues in the current year, 2014,” said City Attorney Jerone Castillo.

“We trust that this clarifies the matter and we hope that our cash assistance this Monday (yesterday) might be of help and significance to you this Christmas,” Castillo added.

In his letter, Delute observed that the OIC treasurer already issued a Certificate of Availability of Funds for the P5,000 balance for seniors and therefore it should be released.

Copies of the reply were sent to Mayor Rama, Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella,  OSCA, Offices of Councilors Margot Osmena and Sisinio Andales and the Office of the Visayas Ombudsman.