ONE year since the provincial government promised financial aid to its senior constituents, the elderly in the province have yet to receive their share of help from the Capitol.
Boljoon resident Simon Nieres, 80, said that his town distributes financial assistance to seniors but it would be better if the Capitol can contribute as well.
“That is what we hope for. But right now, we are not receiving anything from the Province yet,” he told reporters during the Senior Citizens’ Day celebration at the Capitol yesterday.
The 80-year-old is the secretary of the town’s Senior Citizens Affairs Office.
Provincial Board (PB) Member Raul Alcoseba, chairman of the committee on senior citizens, yesterday announced that the financial assistance might be distributed in 2016 yet.
He did not specify a date nor an amount.
During the same celebration at the Capitol in 2014, Alcoseba promised that the provincial government will start giving financial assistance to seniors this year.
Alcoseba said then that he looked forward to the release of the aid to elder residents aged 60 and up.
In an interview with Cebu Daily News yesterday, Alcoseba said the towns are still conducting validation on their elder residents to determine how much the provincial government should set aside for the program.
He said earlier that the local governments would need to submit data to the Provincial Senior Citizens Council by March.
Asked if he gave the towns another deadline, he said it would be difficult for him to do so because he doesn’ want to dictate what the towns should do.
He said he cannot give details because the seniors’ council is directly under the governor’s office. He was just the facilitator.
Alcoseba added that he is only waiting for funding to be available.
“It will not come from me. The ordinance is in place, but it is up to the governor to make it happen,” he said.
Beneficiaries have to be registered in their barangays.
How much will be given to each qualified beneficiary still has to be discussed by the PB for the passage of a supplemental budget.
The Capitol will match whatever amount a town or city gives its senior citizens, said Alcoseba.
He said that if Talisay City, for example, gives P500 to its elders every month, the Capitol would have to give P500 as well.
Gov. Hilario Davide III submitted his proposed executive budget for 2016 to the board earlier this month.
“The governor wasn’t able to include the financial assistance in his proposed budget so we will have to bank on a supplemental budget for next year,” said Alcoseba.
Disclaimer: The comments uploaded on this site do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of management and owner of Cebudailynews. We reserve the right to exclude comments that we deem to be inconsistent with our editorial standards.
