THE city of Taguig officially started on Thursday the house-to-house distribution of birthday cash gifts to more than 270 senior citizens from the 10 Embo barangays now under its care.

Under this program, senior citizens of the city receive cash gifts ranging from P3,000 to P10,000 depending on their age bracket:

* P3,000 for those 60-69 years old,

* P4,000 for those 70-79 years old,

* P5,000 to those 80-89 years old, and

* P10,000 to those 90-99 years old.

Once they reach the age of 100, they will be given P100,000 and will continue to receive the same amount every year for the rest of their lives.

Mayor Lani Cayetano personally handed the cash gift to senior citizens present during the kickoff ceremony in Barangay Pembo. Others received their birthday cash gift at their doorsteps as barangay workers went house to house for the distribution.

72-year-old Guillermo Perez Jr. from Barangay South Cembo expressed his gratitude to the City of Taguig for the cash gift and house-to-house distribution.

“Napakaganda po na dinadala niyo sa amin sa bahay ang aming cash gift. Maraming salamat po,” Perez said as he received his P4,000 cash gift on Thursday.

For Adela Miranda, 86, from Barangay Post Proper Southside, this is her first time to receive cash gift for her birthday.

“Maraming salamat po at ngayon may natanggap na ako sa kaarawan ko. Ibibili ko po ito ng bigas at pang ulam namin,” Miranda happily told barangay workers who handed her P5,000 cash gift.

Despite the lack of proper turnover of the senior citizen database, Taguig still managed to identify an initial list of 271 senior citizens through the help of the community leaders in the Embo barangays. This was verified using the list of social pension beneficiaries from the said barangays.

“Kahit po mano mano ang pagkalap ng ating datos, hindi na namin ipinagpabukas ang pagkakaloob ng birthday cash gift sa ating mga senior citizen,” said Mayor Lani in her message to seniors from the Embo barangays.

“Ang araw po na ito ay patunay na mayroong programa ang City of Taguig para sa ating mga senior citizens. Sa Taguig ang naging programa po natin, pag sumasapit ang kaarawan ng ating mga senior citizen, according to the age bracket, financial assistance po yung binibigay natin,” she added.

Taguig also opened a one-stop shop volunteer center along Sampaguita Street in Barangay Pembo where those who are not included in the initial list of senior citizen beneficiaries can go and have themselves listed and verified for their birthday cash gift.

The one-stop shop is also open for inquiries and applications of social services like medical assistance, burial assistance, benefits for persons with disabilities, and even scholarship concerns.

If residents cannot visit the volunteer center, they can also call these hotline numbers for inquiries and concerns: 0966-170-3025, 0926-661-2230, and 0926-661-2234 for Globe; and 0962-057-9590, and 0950-356-1320 for Smart users.

As a Caring City, Taguig puts priority on the well-being of its senior citizens by conducting house-to-house delivery of free maintenance medicines for those with diabetes, hypertension, and asthma.

In 2019, Taguig opened the Center for the Elderly, a pioneer wellness hub for senior citizens. It is a five-storey building with a therapy pool, sauna, gym/yoga/ballroom area, massage room, cinema, rooftop garden, recreational area, and clinic offering rest and relaxation to Taguigeño elders raring to recharge.

Taguig assures that every senior citizen from the 10 Embo barangays will receive their birthday cash gift since they are now residents of the City. The local government also reiterated its commitment to give the same programs and services to its new residents especially to Taguig’s dear lolos and lolas.