The Cebu City Council wants to increase financial assistance to qualified persons with disabilities (PWDs) in the city from P5,000 to P12,000 a year.
The council approved a resolution in last Wednesday’s session to include P65.4 million for the additional P7,000 financial assistance to PWDs for this year in the next supplemental budget.
The sponsor City Councilor Eugenio Gabuya said there was a need to increase the aid to PWDs to P12,000 per year starting this year “because of the inevitable increase of basic commodities.”
Cebu City has 9,349 qualified PWDs . The city distributed P3,000 out of the expected P5,000 subsidy for PWDs. The latest tranche was allocated earlier this month.
Dr. Ester Concha, chief of the Department of Social Welfare and Services (DSWS), said she will would meet with the council to discuss the increase.
“There should be leveling, depending on one’s need. There are PWDs who need a wheelchair. It would be unfair if they receive the same amount as those who can can walk. There should really be a grading,” she said.
Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama agreed, saying there should be a “fair and reasonable” criteria to be drafted by the DSWS since they would know better.