Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna has ordered a thorough review of the list of senior citizens in the city.
Office of Senior Citizens’ Affairs (OSCA) chief Elinor Jacinto was tasked after the City Hall received reports that some of those in the list are actually no longer living in Manila.
Lacuna said this is the reason why the OSCA requires the personal appearance of the senior citizens whenever their monthly financial aid is being handed out by the city government of Manila.
Citing the reports and also based on initial findings, Lacuna said that there are also some senior citizens who are doubly registered, meaning, they are registered in not just one barangay.
She assured those who have become inactive based on files on the account of incomplete details that they will be fully assisted by the city.
In fact, Lacuna said, many senior citizens have already sought assistance from the OSCA office to fill out the details necessary for them to be included in the list of recipients of the monthly cash assistance being given by the local government.
The lady mayor said that certain staff have been assigned to assist the elderly in this aspect, since not all of them, especially those who are indigent or who live alone, have any access to computers or the necessary know-how.
“Many have gone and solved their problem about the masterlist. We use laptops or computers to solve such problems immediately,” she said.
Lacuna added: “When it comes to finances, we are careful, so we bring it down to the barangays so there is no reason why they can’t get it. Because, we see in the list, excuse me, there are people who are not from Manila.”
The lady mayor also cited instances when an elder is registered in his own barangay and then again registers in the barangay of one of his children.
This, she said, makes it difficult to track which is why the ordinance specifically required personal appearance on the part of the recipients whenever payout is made.
Once the senior citizen is included in the masterlist, Lacuna said there is no reason why their allowances should not be given to them once they are ready for releasing. (Baby Cuevas)
