MAYOR Honey Lacuna appealed to barangay authorities in Manila to make sure that all memos being forwarded to them by City Hall are made known to their respective constituents.
Lacuna made the call during the most recent “Kalinga sa Maynila” forum held in the first district of Tondo, after a resident raised a concern about what happens to a senior citizens’ allowance in case of death at the time of the distribution and the allowance included the time when said elderly was still alive.
The city government releases the monthly monetary aid to senior citizens every four months, for a total of P2,000 each, at P500 per month.
In the said forum, office of senior citizens’ affairs (OSCA) head Elinor Jacinto explained that normally, the physical presence of the senior citizen concerned is needed for the purpose of signing as proof that he already received his allowance from the city.
However, a new city ordinance had been passed by the Manila City Council wherein in case of a senior citizen’s death by the time the allowance is released, the said amount will be automatically converted into burial assistance.
Jacinto explained that all that his surviving family members have to do is file a burial assistance application with OSCA within 30 days from the death of the senior citizen concerned and attach the necessary documents which are needed for the preparation of the voucher.
Jacinto added that the said information had been appropriately disseminated to the barangays through the aid of the barangay bureau.
Lacuna assured that the same amount will be received by the family of the deceased senior citizen.
“Paging. barangay officials. Kapag kami ay nagbaba ng memo sa inyo, marapat lamang na ipagbigay- alam ninyo sa inyo pong mga nasasakupan. Lahat ng resolution at ordinansa, lalo na me kaugnayan sa barangay, ay sinisiguro naming ibinababa sa bgy,” Lacuna said, after a resident claimed that their barangay did not inform them about the burial assistance.
Meanwhile, Lacuna explained that in case a senior citizen is not around during the distribution period, it does not mean that the allowance intended for them is forfeited.
“Para malinaw po, para hindi kayo malito. Baka mamaya, kung ano ang dumating sa inyo na di na makukuha allowance. Kaya po nagtatagal sa barangay sa pagbibigay ng allowance, ito ay upang masigurong maibibigay lahat. Natataon minsan wala sa lugar sa loob ng limang araw eh kailangan naming i-validate, dahil pondo ito ng pamahalaan,” Lacuna explained.
She further said: “Kailangang i-submit ng barangay official ang pangalan nyo at dahilan bakit wala kayo nung bigayan, nang sa gayon, magawan kayo ulit ng panibagong payroll.”
