Since the Cebu city government paid homage to its centenarian citizens during its 76th Charter Day celebration, maybe Mayor Michael Rama can be given聽 leeway for pushing through with his plan to order the early release of P2,500 in senior citizens aid聽聽 for the first quarter of this year.
(The balance of the total amount of P10,000 would thus be given in three other quarters.)
It鈥檚 not only Rama who鈥檚 caught up in聽 generous spirits for the city鈥檚 elders. The City Council recently passed a resolution asking the mayor to release the financial aid on a聽 monthly basis instead so it can be used for聽 medication needs of the elderly.
However, there is聽 the little matter of a budget ordinance that was already聽 passed聽 allocating the senior citizens aid in June and December.
This聽 fact was pointed out by Councilor Jose Daluz III, himself a Rama ally, Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young and Acting City Treasurer Emma Villarete, who nevertheless supported Rama鈥檚 contention if only to avoid being shunted aside by the mayor like her predecessor.
Cebu City鈥檚 tradition聽 of giving a regular聽 cash allotment聽 to senior citizens started during the mayorship of Tomas Osme帽a. The amount has increased steadily over the years as well as the number of seniors, some of whom may聽 have transferred to the city in order to avail of the benefit.
In an election year, the number of registered senior citizens voters reaches聽 over聽 100,000 and if one were to consider their extended families鈥攕ince Pinoy families usually take care of their elder folk and don鈥檛 send them to retirement homes like what鈥檚 done in the US 鈥攖heir votes do matter.
As Congressman Osme帽a and Villarete herself said, the best time to release the senior citizens aid is every six months, when the city鈥檚 fiscal status can best afford to accommodate the assistance.
We鈥檙e not even talking about the city scholarship program for indigent students and all the infrastructure and programs Rama wanted to accomplish before his first three years in office end four months from now鈥攑rovided he gets reelected in May.
But Rama is insistent and the council more so, after being told by senior citizens groups about their need for medication. This only goes to show that if they put their minds to it and if they鈥檙e pressured to win votes, city officials can set aside their ordinances and find a way to make their constituents happy.
What if another mayor gets to sit in office? Then perhaps a change in the date and amount of aid聽 will occur and the council this time would give their near-unanimous approval.
We hope city officials are mindful of appropriating city funds in order not to run afoul of the Commission on Audit (COA) and endanger the implementation of other essential projects and programs.