Get your allowances, Manila asks seniors

The city government had been asked to deliver the allowances to the houses of senior citizens who may be bed-ridden or too weak to claim their benefits personally at city hall

Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna is calling on senior citizens who have not claimed their monthly monetary allowance from the city government to proceed to city hall to get their benefits.

Lacuna said that based on a report from the Office of Senior Citizens’ Affairs, or OSCA, a small percentage of senior citizens in the city continued to have unclaimed allowances.

The city government had been asked to deliver the allowances to the houses of senior citizens who may be bed-ridden or too weak to claim their benefits personally at city hall.

As of 26 May, she said that 95 percent of senior citizens from District 1 have been able to claim their allowances; District 2, 96 percent; District 3, 93 percent; District 4, 95 percent; District 5, 96 percent; and District 6, 93 percent.

The period covered is from January to April 2023 for a total of P2,000 each at P500 a month.

Lacuna thanked the officials and staff of OSCA, the public employment service office, Manila City Library and Manila Barangay Bureau, as well as barangay officials, for helping in the orderly and swift distribution of allowances.

The lady mayor noted that in the city’s regular Kalinga sa Maynila forum, the senior citizens’ allowances had always been a concern.

Currently, there are about 180,000 senior citizens in Manila who receive the said monthly allowance as part of the local government’s social amelioration program drafted by the Manila City Council during the pandemic.

Lacuna headed the council at that time, in her capacity as the council presiding officer concurrent to her position as vice mayor.

Senior citizens who have not yet claimed their allowances are advised to proceed to the OSCA office at the Manila City Hall, located at the corner of Claro M. Recto and Padre Burgos Streets, Manila.

They are required to bring their valid identification cards and proof of residency.

The OSCA office is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday.

PHOTOGRAPH BY MARC JARLEGO FOR THE DAILY TRIBUNE Beyond reach? A blindfolded girl tries her hand at the traditional game basagang palayok or breaking the pot in Maypajo, Caloocan City last week. The game, along with palo-sebo or climbing a greased bamboo pole, is usually played during feast days.