(BORONGAN CITY INFORMATION OFFICE)
TACLOBAN CITY – The city government of Borongan has started the distribution of financial assistance to eligible persons with disabilities (PWDs) as mandated by a city ordinance.
The monetary assistance, as mandated under Ordinance No.251, primarily aims to support the expenses of the PWDs.
The city’s social welfare and development office said that 1,313 PWDs received the cash assistance.
Among those who received the monthly allowance amounting to P2,500 was Melanio Tabio, 53, a single parent, who was very happy to avail of the cash assistance from the city government.
Tabio said that she would use the money to buy food for her family, and for transportation fare of her children who are studying at the Eastern Samar State University.
City Ordinance No. 251 mandates to provide P250 monthly allowance to the PWDs to be given every fourth month of the year or a total amount of P2,500 annually.
Eligible to receive the cash assistance are PWDs who are not beneficiaries of any city government program, have no regular financial support provided by family members or relatives, and those with limited capacity or capability for employment due to their disability.
Documentary requirements to become eligible to receive the cash assistance include a valid PWD identification card, medical certificate or abstract from the city health physician, and voter’s registration.
Beneficiaries of the monthly monetary allowance must ensure that the documents they submitted are not falsified to continue receiving the benefits under the program.
Those who would be caught submitting falsified documents will be disqualified from the monetary allowance for one month on 1st offense, three months on 2nd offense, and six months on the 3rd offense with a warning of termination.
The ordinance also states that aside from the financial assistance, the city mayor may also provide supplemental food, grocery and/or medicine packs to PWD beneficiaries, depending on the availability of funds.
The monthly financial assistance to PWDs is one of the programs implemented by the city government under Mayor Jose Ivan Dayan Agda to help the residents who have less in life.
Other monthly monetary allowances provided by the city government are the financial assistance to all senior citizens who are not social pensioners under the Department of Social Welfare and Development, and the “Direkta Ayuda Program,” a monthly allowances to senior high school and college students.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
