LOCAL RESIDENTS have praised Mayor Beng Climaco for resuming the “Dia de Alcalde” outreach program after it was temporarily shelved due to the government’s ban during the election period.
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| A senior citizen receives cash assistance from Mayor Beng Climaco. Below are Climaco's loyal supporters. (Eugene Elnar) |
Climaco led the resumption of the program beginning May 26 and held in various villages to bring basic health and other social services. It was participated by various local government departments and barangay officials and security forces.
The beneficiaries, especially the senior citizens, were provided medicines and health and dental services, among others. The humanitarian caravan was also supported and participated by private groups and the military's Task Force Zamboanga.
The Dia del Alcalde continues to bring government services closer to local folks in line with the Climaco administration's thrust on Security, Health and Education.
The mayor also resumed the distribution of cash incentives to senior citizens in different villages, particularly to octogenarians or 80-89 years old; and nonagenarians or those 90-99 years old. Octogenarians received P10,000 each and the nonagenarians were given P20,000 each.
Climaco
also provides cash incentives to senior citizens celebrating their birthday as
provided in a local ordinance.
Considered also as the first of its kind in the
history of Zamboanga, the distribution of the cash gifts covers all the 98
barangays here. Under the ordinance, the birthday cash incentives will be given
to all senior citizens: P500 for 60-69 years old; P700 for ages 70-79; P800 for
ages 80-90; P1,500 for ages 91-94 and P2,000 95-99 years old.
It is only during Climaco’s administration that
senior citizens are receiving the much needed attention and care through various
local government humanitarian and pro-poor programs.
The benefits could have been more under the Largo Vida program, but opposition councilors who are allies of Rep. Mannix Dalipe and former mayor Celso Lobregat “killed” the humanitarian project before the local elections.
Largo Vida was part of Climaco’s benevolent programs dedicated to the welfare or well-being of senior citizens and vulnerable sectors of the community. It is being implemented by the City Health Office, City Social Welfare and Development Office and Office of the City Mayor.
Many of
the beneficiaries of the Dia de Alcalde, especially the elderly, were emotional
upon seeing Climaco personally leading the program. Climaco lost her
congressional bid in the last election, but is still working as hard as ever.
She even called on all City Hall employees to support the new elected leaders. (Zamboanga
Post)
