Cebu — Thousands of senior citizens in Cebu City may soon see an improvement in their social welfare benefits as the City Council deliberates a proposed ordinance to expand the coverage of the annual ₱12,000 financial assistance program. Currently, the city’s aid, governed by City Ordinance No. 2453, is restricted to elderly residents who registered as Cebu City voters in 2013 or earlier. The new proposal, filed by Councilors Nyza Archival, Pastor Alcover Jr., and Harry Eran, seeks to move this voter registration cutoff date to 2014. If enacted, this change would allow a significant number of seniors who have been on the waiting list to finally qualify for the yearly stipend.
Understanding the Eligibility Shift
The primary goal of the proposed amendment is to update the eligibility criteria to better reflect the city's current demographic and policy direction. By revising Section 5(c) of the existing ordinance, the city intends to acknowledge elderly residents who are legitimate members of the community but were previously excluded due to the rigid 2013 cutoff. Supporters of the move argue that the voter registration requirement is a vital tool for establishing residency and long-term ties to the city, and adjusting the date is a necessary step to include those who have lived in Cebu City but registered just a year later than the current mandate allows.
Path to Implementation
For the proposed expansion to take effect, it must first undergo a series of committee deliberations involving the committees on laws, senior citizens, and finance. Following these internal reviews, the proposal will require formal approval from the full City Council during their regular sessions. Once passed, the ordinance will be set to take effect 15 days after its official publication in a newspaper of general circulation or posting at Cebu City Hall. This initiative highlights the local government's commitment to social welfare under the Local Government Code of 1991, aiming to ensure that more senior citizens receive the support they need to maintain a decent quality of life.
