1 month ago
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CEBU CITY — If the exemption from a Commission on Elections (Comelec) guideline is not approved, over 90,000 senior citizens, 14,000 persons with disability, and thousands of medical beneficiaries in Cebu City stand to lose access to vital assistance.
Cebu City Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia warned of these potential consequences as the City Council delayed the approval of a resolution authorizing him to seek exemption from the Comelec ruling.
The resolution, authored by Councilor Rey Gealon, seeks to bypass restrictions under Comelec Resolution 11060, which prohibits fund disbursements for social services 45 days before the elections.
The national and local elections are set on May 12, 2025.
Garcia expressed hope that the city council would recognize the importance of the resolution, pointing out that delaying its approval would negatively affect thousands of senior citizens and PWDs who rely on financial assistance.
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He added that the city council must be ready to explain the situation to these vulnerable sectors if the exemption is not granted.
Social services in jeopardy
The council deferred the resolution during its Jan. 8 session, citing a lack of specific project details and required documentation.
The decision risks halting financial aid programs like the City Hospitalization Medicines Program (Champ), quarterly assistance for senior citizens and PWDs, and burial assistance services.
Garcia highlighted the challenges of meeting some documentation requirements, explaining that the city cannot predict when people will need hospitalization or burial assistance.
He also noted the unpredictable nature of disbursing assistance for sickness or death and urged the council not to be overly strict on these requirements.
"Lisod siguro ihatag og beneficiaries kay wala man ta kahibaw kanus-a masakit ang tao. Ayaw lang sad tawn mi hatagi'g dokumento sa beneficiaries sa burial, kay wala man mi kahibaw kung kanus-a sila mamatay, kung kanus-a sad sila mahospital (It's probably difficult to provide a list of beneficiaries because we don't know when someone will get sick. Please don't ask us for documents for burial beneficiaries either, because we don't know when they will die or when they will be hospitalized)," Garcia said.
Council's concerns
Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) President Franklyn Ong and Councilor Jocelyn Pesquera questioned the resolution's vagueness during the Jan. 8 session.
Ong pointed out that Comelec requires exemptions to be specific in detailing the programs, timelines, and funding. Pesquera echoed this concern, stressing the importance of accountability and transparency.
Councilor Gealon acknowledged the need for additional documentation and promised to revise the resolution to address the council's concerns.
Meanwhile, Garcia stressed the urgency of securing the exemption before Comelec's Feb. 11 deadline, warning that the consequences of inaction would be dire for thousands of beneficiaries.
He urged the council to act decisively during its Jan. 15 session to avoid interruptions in vital social programs.
The mayor reiterated his concerns, emphasizing that if the resolution is not approved, the responsibility for the resulting disruptions would fall squarely on the council.
Meanwhile, tens of thousands of Cebu City residents await a resolution to ensure the continuity of their much-needed support.
