Cebu City senior citizens will receive P1,000 in financial assistance on March 28, as the City Council’s ordinance restoring quarterly payouts awaits Mayor Nestor Archival’s approval.
Archival clarified during a press briefing on Monday, March 23, that although the council has passed the measure reverting to a P3,000 quarterly subsidy, the document has not yet reached his office for review and signature.
“Karong 28 nato ihatag, and sa PWDs the week after next. This is usa lang una kay ordinance nga gi-approve sa council wala pa nako madawat, so 1 month,” Archival said.
For now, the city will continue its existing monthly distribution, granting beneficiaries a single month’s aid while awaiting the ordinance’s final approval.
The City Council had approved the shift back to quarterly payouts—totaling P12,000 annually—to streamline distribution and provide seniors with larger, more substantial releases every three months. But without the mayor’s signature, the policy cannot yet take effect.
City Hall confirmed that the March payout for senior citizens will proceed on March 28, while assistance for persons with disabilities (PWDs) is scheduled for the following week. Distribution will continue through the Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) and barangay-level channels to ensure beneficiaries can access the aid.
Cebu City currently supports more than 100,000 senior citizens under its financial assistance program, many of whom rely on the aid for essentials such as food and medicine.
Officials said that while the return to quarterly payouts is expected to improve efficiency and increase the impact of each release, aid will continue uninterrupted during the transition.
Until the ordinance is signed, seniors can expect only the P1,000 monthly disbursement. (LLP)
