BACOLOD CITY—Starting this month, the City of Bacolod is giving out cakes and cash gifts to senior citizens as part of the program dubbed “Malipayon nga Kaadlawan, Lolo kag Lola.”
As of January 6, 101 senior citizens have each received a birthday cake and a cash gift of P200 during their actual birthdays this week.
The program is provided in Ordinance 09-16-791 authored by Councilor Dindo Ramos, chairman of the Sangguniang Panlungsod Committee on Senior Citizens and Veteran Affairs.
It was launched as part of the “Salute to the Seniors” event during the New Year’s Eve Countdown at the Bacolod City Government Center on December 31, 2016.
Mayor Evelio Leonardia said in a report on Friday he immediately signed the ordinance so the city government can implement the program right away.
“Now, we will have something to celebrate with senior citizens,” he said.
He added: “Every time their birthdays come, the city will remember them with birthday cakes, our humble tribute to them who each helped build Bacolod into what it is now.”
Ramos said most senior citizens in Bacolod are not financially self-reliant and are primarily dependent on their children, relatives or even friends for their daily needs and subsistence, more so for their amusement and entertainment.
To recognize and maximize their contribution and participation in the development of the community and the advancement of the youths pursuant to the objective of Republic Act 9257, birthday cakes and cash gifts should be given to qualified senior citizens during special occasions, he said.
To qualify, the senior citizen must be a member of the Office of the Senior Citizens Affair and a holder of a valid senior-citizen identification card issued by the City Mayor’s Office.
They must not earn more than P60,000 a year, either as salary, pension or business profit, or a combination of these, at the time of the special occasion as certified by the barangay captain where the senior citizen resides, the ordinance stated.