■ SENIOR CITIZENS RECEIVE FIRST TRANCHE OF CASH AID FROM CEBU CITY GOVERNMENT
The elderly in Cebu City had a reason to celebrate yesterday. Those who were qualified collected the first tranche of the City Government’s P12,000 cash assistance. They received P2,000 each. The amount covers the months of January and February. The half-day distribution went on without a hitch. It was done in different designated areas in the 80 barangays. Rolan Pangilinan, a 62-year-old street sweeper at the port, said he prefers the current system of distribution that allows them to claim the aid every two months, although, if he had his way, a monthly distribution would even be better. Those who failed to claim their cash aid yesterday can get it at the City Hall tomorrow.
I think Mayor Tomas Osmeña wanted to do it monthly and I like that system because the cash is helpful to us ROLAN PANGILINAN
The half-day distribution of the cash aid in the 80 barangays was generally peaceful, says Domingo Chavez, head of the Office of the Senior Citizens' Affairs
One recipient said he prefers the current system of distributing the cash aid every two months, although making it a monthly practice will be more ideal
Around 60,300 qualified senior citizens in Cebu City received a portion of their P12,000 financial assistance for the first time this year from the City Government.
Each of them got P2,000, which covers the months of January and February.
The half-day distribution yester- day was done in different designated areas in the 80 barangays.
Unlike in the previous distribution, 62-year-old Rolan Pangilinan said he prefers the current system of the distribution, which allows them to claim their aid every two months, at most.
"I think Mayor Tomas Osmeña wanted to do it monthly and I like that system because the cash is so helpful to us," he told Sun-Star Cebu.
He said a monthly distribution allows them to use the money for their immediate needs.
Pangilinan is a street sweeper at the port, who barely earns more than the daily mandated salary rate.
After receiving his P2,000 yesterday, Pangilinan turned over half of the amount to his wife.
"The other half will be mine because I also need to enjoy my cash aid from the City," he said.
Domingo Chavez, head of the Office of the Senior Citizens' Affairs, said yesterday's distribution was generally peaceful and orderly.
He said they did not monitor major glitches except for some concerns on identification cards that were resolved right after.
Those who failed to claim their cash aid yesterday can get it at the City Hall tomorrow.