Senior citizens, 60 years old and above, are advised to organize or be a member of senior citizen organizations duly recognized by the Office of the Senior Citizen Affairs (OSCA) and the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) in order to avail of the annual cash grant.
Atty. Marlisa Gallo, department head of CSWDO, said this is among the requirements for the senior citizens to avail of the subsidy.
“Also kinahanglan member sa duly senior citizen organizations recognized by OSCA and CSWDO. Naa daghan mga seniors wala nagpa member ug organizations, gi-allow nato past two years kay pandemic but this point in time nakapa-vaccine naman ang tanan, dapat ang senior citizens magpa member na sila. At least 15 members para ma-organize na sila,” Gallo said over Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR) on Monday.
On May 17, 2022, the 19th City Council passed and approved Ordinance No. 0954-22, Series of 2022, entitled “An Ordinance Amending Ord. No. 0105-19, Granting Annual Financial Assistance to all Qualified Senior Citizens of Davao City”, which mandates the annual granting of P1,500 financial incentive to senior citizens aged 65 years and older.
The amendment or Ordinance No. 0954-22, to be known as ‘The Amended Annual Financial Assistance to All Qualified Senior Citizens Ordinance of Davao City’, expands the pool of senior citizen beneficiaries to include citizens aged 60 years old.
“Mahinumduman na ang atoang annual subsidy nag-ingon ta nga ang makadawat katong 65 years old and above lang. Pero atoang bag-ong ordinance pasalamat ta kay ang edad 60 anyos mu-qualify na pud sila,” Gallo said.
“Base sa ordinance starting 2022 pag mu-qualifiy na atoang 60 years old and above pero dili pako kaseguro kung maapil sila sa payout sa 2022. Basta ang klaro is 60 years old apil na siya. Pero bag o lang man ni basin dili ni ma badgetan ug next year na makadawat pero segurado ta nga maapil na gyud sila sa annual subsidy,” she said.
Former Second District Councilor Ralph Abella, the principal proponent of the amendment, was reported saying that the grant is meant to assist all elderly in their medical expenses and other health essentials, while the inclusion of the 60 to 64 years old Dabawenyos is a move to further strengthen the city’s commitment to delivering care and putting importance on the plight of Davao City’s senior citizens.
He also said that upon implementation, the number of grantees will increase from 125,344 senior citizens to 162,245. Other than the expansion of the ordinance’s coverage, the amendment also introduced exemptions to the qualification process of beneficiaries.
To avail, senior citizens had to show proof that they are registered voters in one of the city districts before, this is not a requirement anymore as long as they can provide a certificate of residency from the barangay that states they are Davao City residents for at least five years.
Gallo said that among the requirements also for a senior to qualify is that he/she should be a holder of an OSCA ID issued in Davao City. She said OSCA ID outside Davao City will not be accepted as well as People With Disability (PWD) ID.
