By Jel Santos
Makati City has allocated P422.78 million to fund programs and projects for senior citizens this year.
(MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
Mayor Abigail Binay said such move intends to ensure the welfare of the around 80, 000 senior citizens in Makati City under her administration:
The budget for senior citizens, she said, represents almost a third of entire budget for the Social Welfare sub-sector, which has been raised to P1.57 billion, or 40.8 percent higher than the budget last year.
“We have made sure that our beloved senior citizens in Makati will be able to continuously enjoy the services and benefits we have accorded them, which other localities across the nation have been trying to emulate,” she said.
Makati City is known for its many innovative programs for senior citizens, which go beyond the provisions of national laws concerning the elderly.
It has provided cash gifts, free and unlimited admission to cinemas in the city, free birthday cakes and golden wedding anniversary cakes, free medicines and subsidized medical services, and free tours, among others.
Of the P422.78 million budget, P330.1 million will be used for the annual cash gifts and one-time Centenarian cash gift under the Blu Card; P40 million for free movies; P36.1 million for free cakes on birthdays and golden wedding anniversaries; P3.9 million for Lakbay Saya; and P6.5 million for cultural and theatrical presentations.
The remaining budget of P6 million has been allotted to burial assistance for Blu card holders amounting to P3,000 each.