Mabolo elders go to court, question Cebu City’s new cash aid policy

Local

A GROUP of elderly residents in Barangay Mabolo, Cebu City has filed a petition before the Regional Trial Court questioning the city government's new guidelines for releasing senior citizens’ financial assistance.

The United Mabolo Elderly Organization (UMEO), represented by Barangay Captain and lawyer Daniel Francis Arguedo, said the case seeks to clarify the legality of certain provisions under two city ordinances that govern the distribution of the P12,000 annual financial assistance for senior citizens.

“We are asking the court to determine the legality of the disallowance of authorization and the change of schedule from quarterly to monthly. These are the two issues raised. It’s just a question of legality,” Arguedo said in an interview on Wednesday, Oct. 29.

Under City Ordinance No. 2453, passed in 2016, qualified seniors receive P12,000 a year, released every quarter or P3,000 per payout. But in 2020, Ordinance No. 2579 amended the law to make the distribution monthly, a policy that the city began implementing this October 25.

UMEO Secretary Elsa Midado, 72, said the new scheme has caused distress among seniors who are used to receiving their aid quarterly.

“Daghan niduol nako kay nahasol sila sa monthly kay naanad sila sa three months. Ang P1,000 nga makuha karon dili gyud makaigo sa ilang kinahanglanon, labi na kung layo pa ilang balay,” Midado said.

She added that many of them are also appealing for the city to bring back the use of authorization letters so family members can claim the aid on behalf of sick or bedridden seniors.

“Natural, daghan gyud ang mga senior nga gipangbati. Sauna pwede man ang authorization, nganong karon dili naman?” she added.

In their petition, the group argued that the city’s refusal to accept authorization letters may violate the Civil Code, which recognizes a person’s right to enter into a contract of agency.

They also pointed out that Ordinance No. 2579 did not explicitly repeal the quarterly schedule stated in Ordinance No. 2453, nor did it go through a public hearing, a requirement they said should have been observed since the policy affects thousands of seniors across the city.

According to the filing, 1,008 senior citizens signed the petition urging the city to revert to quarterly releases for reasons of health, safety, and convenience.

The petition also cited that many seniors are bedridden or live outside their barangays, making it difficult and costly to claim P1,000 monthly in person.

In response, Mayor Nestor Archival said he is open to discussing the seniors’ concerns but maintained that the city was merely following the ordinance.

“I don’t think there’s a problem with that. If someone wants to request an exemption, I can give approval without going to court,” Archival said. “Open ko makig-istorya. Tan-awon nato kay daghan kaayo sitwasyon nga ang authorization gigamit na nga supposedly dili tagaan.”

The city’s shift to a monthly distribution started on October 25, with each qualified senior receiving P1,000, equivalent to one month’s share.

The program covers both long-time and newly validated beneficiaries, according to the Office of Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA).

Archival earlier said the monthly payout would promote better monitoring and accountability, given the city’s growing senior population, now more than 93,000, and expected to reach 100,000 next year.

However, several senior groups and even some city councilors have questioned the practicality of a monthly scheme, citing mobility issues and logistical challenges.(TGP)