By Ivy Tejano
DAVAO CITY – The Davao City Council has moved forward with the proposal to increase the annual financial assistance for senior citizens, approving on second reading an ordinance that would raise the amount from P1,500 to as much as P3,000.
Councilor Pilar Braga, chair of the Committee on Education, Science and Technology, and Arts and Culture, told the Davao media that the legislation seeks to amend Ordinance No. 0954-22 to enhance the level of support provided to elderly residents in the city.
Ordinance No. 0954-22, or the Amended Annual Financial Assistance to All Qualified Senior Citizens Ordinance of Davao City, mandates that seniors above 60 receive P1,500 in financial aid. The proposed increase is set for final approval on third reading in the coming weeks.
Braga emphasized that the proposed amount represents the ceiling of what eligible senior citizens could receive annually, depending on available government funds.
She said the ordinance sets P3,000 as the maximum subsidy, but the final amount will still be based on the city’s financial capacity since other sectors also require support.
The councilor also underscored the importance of easing the economic burden on seniors, noting that even a modest increase can make a difference.
“Even if it is not much, it helps. And we are not stopping there. As the city’s income grows, we hope to expand the benefits for senior citizens and other vulnerable groups,” Braga said.
The City Social Welfare and Development Office reported that 141,544 senior citizens have received the P1,500 subsidy from October 2024 to May 2025. An additional 27,255 beneficiaries remain in the pipeline, with the total target set at 168,799.
The ordinance will take effect once the mayor signs it into law.
