Rama et al tighten rule on claiming senior citizens' birthday gift

THE city government is under fire from senior citizens due to the alleged onerous requirements imposed in claiming their birthday gift. The criticism is magnified with opposition councilors riding on the issue. What nobody knows is that the opposition councilors themselves ordered the Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs (Osca) to strictly follow the guidelines in the release of the benefit.

This was gleaned in the minutes of the meeting called by the 13^th Sangguniang Panlungsod’s Committee on Senior Citizens chaired by Councilor Vincent Rama on Nov. 4 last year. In that meeting, the opposition councilors castigated Osca for its lenient implementation of the guidelines particularly on the filing of claims.

Based on the guidelines, a senior citizen must apply at least 30 days before his/her birthday to avail of the benefit. It also states that “Late application must definitely be disallowed and not be considered.” But during the Nov. 4, 2015 meeting, Osca head Mansueta N. Teleron admitted disregarding that provision.

According to her, they continued accepting claims from January celebrants up to September that year. Mayor Edward C. Codilla approved another P6 million on top of the P11 million early that year to accommodate all claims for 2015 including those from the late filers.

But Rama was so incensed upon learning that Osca kept on accepting late filers that he blurted out to Teleron and City Social Welfare and Development Officer Marietta Leagaspi: “Maayo tingali i-kuwintas ni ninyo ning ordiansa! Pataka lang mo og sulti!”

The councilors are of the position that late filers even for one day should not be given their birthday gift that year. Councilor Mario Rodriguez is concerned the Commission on Audit might question Osca’s practice of accepting late filers. “Maayo tingali dili nato i-encourage ang late filer,” he said.

Rama seconded by saying: “I think we should stop kanang late filers. I don’t know how you will handle it, but definitely ibalik gyud sa kadtong 30 days before,” he said. “Pananglitan (sa) 2016, kung ang imong birthday February, kinahanglan one month before February, mu-apply gyud ka.”

For his part, Councilor Tomas Serafica advised Teleron to accept late filers for the release of their birthday gift on the next year which the Osca head rejected. “Kung ako gani balibaran, di gyud nako dawaton. Ingna ngano? Kung mag-file sila, they are expecting nga they will receive the amount. So ako gyud ingnon nga sunod tuig na lang na ninyo i-file kay magsalig man na sila,” she said.