EO on aid for seniors' heir beneficiaries signed

DAVAO City Mayor Sara Z. Duterte-Carpio signed an executive order (EO) issuing the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) for the city ordinance granting death benefit assistance to the surviving heirs or other beneficiaries of a deceased senior citizen.

Executive Order 46 or the “Order Promulgating the implementing rules and regulation of the implementation of the death benefits assistance for the surviving heirs of the bona fide senior citizens of Davao City" was signed by the mayor last December 22, 2017.

The EO provides the IRR of the City Ordinance No. 0201-14, which directs the grant of Death Benefit assistance in the amount of P5,000 to the surviving heirs of a deceased senior citizen.

Section 2 of the executive order read that financial assistance shall be given to a qualified beneficiary. However, on the event that the beneficiary was granted financial assistance for the burial of the senior citizen through the Lingap Para sa Mahirap, in the amount equal

to or more that P5,000, the request for the death benefit assistance may be denied. If the amount is less than P5,000, the beneficiary is entitled to the difference.

Spouse of the deceased is the identified primary beneficiary, and in the absence of spouse, the beneficiary will be the “nearest surviving relative by consanguinity” in the following degree of kinship: (1) children, (2) parents, (3) grandchildren, (4) siblings, (5) uncle and aunt (with third degree of consanguinity) (6) benefactor.

Death of senior citizens must be reported immediately by the surviving legal spouse, nearest surviving relatives or by the benefactor to the office of the senior citizen’s affairs (OSCA) or the City Social Servies and Development Office (CSSDO) by presenting the copy of the death certificate.

The Osca will verify and then refer the claimants to the CSSDO district office where the senior citizen resided as the case maybe or where the claimants reside.

The CSSDO will conduct home visit to validate and determine the veracity of the reported death of senior citizen and the claimant. Upon determining the veracity, the social worker shall require the claimant with the basic requirements for the submission to the CSSDO district office where the claimant resides.

The requirements include death certificate, Osca issued Senior Citizen’s Identification card or any valid government identification card, any valid issued identification card of the claimant, certification from the barangay where the senior citizen resided, certification from the barangay where the claimant resides, marriage contract if the claimant is the legal surviving spouse, public record showing proof of affinity to