AC gov’t to distribute ₱1-K cash aid, Vitamin C to 40,159 seniors
ANGELES CITY – Some 40,159 registered senior citizens in the 33 barangays here are set to receive P1,000 financial assistance and Vitamin C supplements from the city government under the leadership of Mayor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin, Jr. via house-to-house distribution starting on February 7, 2022.
Mayor Lazatin said this is to continue prioritizing the needs of the elderly under the new normal setting.
“Nasa panahon pa rin po ng pandemya. Bagamat bakunado na po ang ating mga seniors, importante pong palakasin ang kanilang katawan sa pamamagitan po ng vitamins na ipinapamigay ng siyudad,” Lazatin shared.
Lazatin’s Chief Adviser IC Calaguas, who recently presided the meeting over the distribution of the assistance, said it will start in barangays with the largest populations such as Balibago with 2,600 elderly; Cutcut (2,448); Malabanias (2,138); and Sto. Domingo (2,712).
Eduardo Torres, Office for Senior Citizens Affairs Head, explained that four teams were formed to simultaneously distribute the financial assistance and Vitamin C supplements.
“Ang bilin po ni Mayor Lazatin ay mabigyan po lahat ng seniors ng ipinapamigay nating vitamins at cash assistance. Kung dati po ay nauuna tayo sa maliliit na barangays, ngayon po uunahin po ang mga largest para po mas mabilis nating matapos po ang pamimigay house-to-house,” Torres explained.
Torres also said that this initiative to deliver the house-to-house assistance started in 2019 when Mayor Lazatin assumed office.
“Gaya po ng nasabi ko noon, sa administrasyon lamang po ni Mayor Lazatin nakatanggap ang mga seniors ng ganitong tulong,” Torres added.
The welfare of the elderly has been a priority of Mayor Lazatin, administering free vaccines against flu and pneumonia even before the pandemic. In fact, a total of 7,811 senior citizens have availed of the Anti-Flu and Anti-Pneumonia vaccination.
It can be recalled that a total of 462 bedridden elderly and 396 seniors, aged 90 to 99 years old were also given calcium carbonate supplements last October, with P2,000 financial assistance.
He started this program in 2019 as a fulfillment of his campaign promise.
Amid the pandemic, the city government also carried out a house-to-house distribution of Vitamin C to 25,000 indigent senior citizens.
Some 33,000 seniors also received P1,000 social amelioration financial assistance and Vitamin C from the city government last May 2020.