A city councilor expressed concern over the 3-month delay in the release of funds for the quarterly allowance for the senior citizens.
City Councilor Peter Maristela said Monday that the city government should address the issue and release the fund for the senior citizen as it is already delayed for almost three months.
“Gusto ko lang iparating na delayed ang pagbibigay natin ng allowances sa ating mga seniors. Ano po ba ang nangyayari? Fourth quarter na ngayon pero wala pa tayong nare-release,” he said.
City Councilor Elgin Damasco explained that the release of funds may have been affected by the election ban but Maristela said that the ban already ended in July.
“Ang election ban ay natapos na noong July pa. Puwede nang ibigay doon ang third quarter but October na ang naibigay pa lang ay ang second quarter. Ano po ang dahilan kung bakit fourth quarter na ngayon pero second quarter pa lang ang naibibigay? Kaya palagay ko ay hindi election ban ang problema tingin ko doon sa sistema,” he said.
Maristela said that there might be factors affecting the timely distribution of allowances that should be explained to the recipients. He also added that there might be a problem with the disbursing officer.
“Wala akong bini-blame dito, ang akin lang ay matignan natin ang anggulo na ito. Baka ang iba ay dahil sa dami ng nagca-cash advance kaya nagkukulang ang ating pondo at ‘yon ang nagiging problema. Sana matignan natin ito para magawan ng paraan kung paano natin sa kanila mabibigay,” he said.
Aside from this, Maristela also proposed the use of cash cards to ease the elderly beneficiaries with claiming their allowances.
“Katulad ng nai-propose natin dati ay sana cash card nalang ang gamitin sa pagbibigay ng kanilang allowances. Hindi katulad ngayon na pupunta sila sa araw ng bigayan pero kung cash card ‘yan ay pwede na nilang ipakuha sa kanilang apo o anak dahil ang iba sa kanila ay mahihina na rin,” Maristela said.
On the same day, the council has approved on the second reading on the amendment of the Ordinance no. 994 section 4 or the granting of allowances to the senior citizens, person with disabilities and qualified students to change the P1,000 allowance to P1,500 quarterly.
