Manila Bulletin

Makati’s senior citizens to receive extra allowance

- By ANNA LIZA VILLAS-ALAVAREN

Senior citizens in Makati City are set to receive additional year-end cash allowance as post-Valentine’s Day gift.

The city government of Makati is set to distribute 1500 as additional year-end cash gift to some 75,565 qualified BLU Card holders starting Wednesday, February 15, following the approval by the City Council of a 11,000-increase in the annual cash gift of BLU Card holders.

“We hope that the additional allowance will help our senior citizens cope better with the troubles of aging. Since the city government already provides them monthly supply of maintenanc­e medicines, free hospitaliz­ation and other medical services, they could use the extra money for their other needs,” Mayor Abby Binay said.

City Ordinance No. 2016-A-043 has granted an additional 11,000 to the annual cash gift given in two tranches of 1500 each to BLU Card holders. BLU Card holders aged 60-69 will now receive an annual cash gift of 13,000 each; 70 to 79 years old, 14,000; and 80 and above, 15,000. The cash gift for all age groups will still be given in two equal installmen­ts every June and December.

The year-end cash gift will also be distribute­d to the second batch of recipients composed of 1,401 seniors whose BLU Cards were released from October 17 to December 31, 2016.

The BLU Card program was launched in 2002 as a burial assistance program providing 13,000 to beneficiar­ies of a deceased BLU card holder. It was later expanded to grant financial assistance to senior citizens during their lifetime through an annual cash gift to help defray their daily expenses, especially on food and medicine.

In a report to Mayor Binay, Makati Social Welfare Department (MSWD) officerin-charge Ryan Barcelo said the distributi­on of additional and updated yearend cash gifts will be done from February 15 to March 7, 2017 on designated periods and venues in each barangay.

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