OSCA to Enforce Strict Measure Vs “Unscrupulous” Seniors

The Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) in Cebu City has recommended stricter measure to counter the unscrupulous activities of some elderly persons who continues receiving cash assistance from the city even if they are already staying in other provinces.

OSCA head Domingo Chavez has proposed amendments to the existing guidelines in the program giving cash assistance to avoid the influx of senior citizens from the neighboring municipalities and provinces who registered in Cebu City for them to get the aid.

Chavez, who assumed as OSCA head January, has observed that many unscrupulous individuals pretended to be residents of Cebu City even if they are already residing in other parts of the country, some are in abroad, but still managed to receive cash aid from the city government.

The number of senior citizens in Cebu City that are registered with OSCA had already reached a little over 60,000. The families and relatives of those senior citizens that are already living in other places will just send them text messages when they city distribute the cash aid.

To counter the unscrupulous activities of some senior citizens, Chavez is recommending that the grace period of 15 days for the accredited seniors to collect their cash aids will be reduced to only five days.

“If you are from Cebu City, taas ra kayo na’ng 15 days. Then, if you really need money, nganong pa dugay-dugayon pa man. In fact, it’s ideal unta nga one day or two days ra para dili makabantay ang tua sa laing lugar,” he said.