Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival has taken a firm stand against a proposed rule that would have permitted immediate family members to claim financial assistance on behalf of bedridden senior citizens. In a decisive move, the mayor vetoed this provision, expressing grave concerns that it could open a loophole for the misuse of public funds intended for the city's elderly population.
Protecting Public Funds from Potential Abuse
The vetoed rule was embedded within City Ordinance 2453, which aimed to streamline the process for distributing cash aid to physically incapacitated seniors. Under the provision, family members would have been allowed to collect the funds, subject to verification by the Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs (Osca). However, Mayor Archival argued that while the City Council's intent to simplify claims was understandable, the risks associated with such a system were unacceptably high.
"My primary duty is to ensure that every peso of the City's Social Amelioration Fund reaches its intended, living, and qualified beneficiaries," Archival stated emphatically. He highlighted that requiring seniors to personally claim their money serves as a critical "periodic eligibility and welfare validation." Without this direct interaction, the mayor warned, the city cannot guarantee the integrity of disbursements, leaving the system vulnerable to unauthorized claims and potential fraud.
Proposing a Safer Alternative for Aid Distribution
Instead of the family-claim approach, Mayor Archival has advocated for a more controlled and secure method to deliver assistance. He recommended implementing a house-to-house distribution system specifically for bedridden seniors in Cebu City. This would ensure that aid reaches the intended recipients directly, minimizing the risk of intermediaries misusing funds.
Additionally, for cases where a beneficiary's condition cannot be immediately verified, Archival proposed placing their payouts on a temporary "holding status" until confirmation is obtained. He also suggested that any vacated slots on the cash aid list should be automatically reassigned to qualified seniors waiting in line, ensuring efficient and fair allocation of resources.
Uncertainty Looms Over Quarterly Payout Scheme
The veto has cast a shadow of uncertainty over Cebu City's newly approved quarterly payout scheme for senior citizens. Under this ordinance, qualified individuals are supposed to receive an annual aid of P12,000, distributed in smaller increments of P3,000 every three months. However, the mayor's action has thrown this plan into disarray.
During a session on Tuesday, April 14, the City Council found itself divided on the implications of the veto. Some members argued that it effectively nullified the entire ordinance, while others contended that it only canceled the specific family-claim rule. This disagreement has prompted the council to seek legal guidance from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to clarify the path forward.
For now, Cebu City's approximately 90,000 senior citizens must wait as local leaders work to resolve this issue and agree on the safest and most effective method to deliver their much-needed financial assistance. The outcome will significantly impact how public funds are managed and distributed to support the elderly community in the city.
