THE city government of Makati, through the Makati Action Center (MAC), has resumed the delivery of birthday cakes to the city’s BLU Card holders, people 60 years and older who celebrated their birthdays in the months of July to December last year.
In a report to Mayor Abigail Binay, the MAC said, as of July 25, 26,933 senior Makatizens received their birthday cakes since the delivery resumed in February, covering 32 barangays, and is set to be completed in the first week of August.
“We are glad we could finally catch up on our deliveries of birthday cakes to our beloved senior Makatizens. Our MAC personnel have stepped up their daily, door-to-door delivery of cakes to cover last year and this month’s birthday celebrants,” Binay said.
The seven-month delay was allegedly caused by procurement issues neglected by the previous administration.
The mayor assured the city’s older residents they will continue to enjoy the unparalleled perks granted to them since the time of her father, former Vice President Jejomar Binay.
During the transition period last year, the Binay administration conducted a review of all existing contracts. These included the contract for the supply of birthday cakes for senior citizens, which had been merely extended by the previous administration since 2015 and not opened to public bidding as required by law.
The free birthday cake is one of the privileges granted by the city government under the BLU Card program, implemented by the Elderly Welfare Section of the Makati Social Welfare Department. For this year P33.7 million has been allocated for the free cakes given to over 77,000 BLU Card holders on their birthday and to couples on their golden wedding anniversary.
Since July 1 this year the MAC has been delivering an average of 500 birthday cakes daily to the beneficiaries to cover the backlog, along with July 2017 celebrators. Once the cake distribution to 36,310 birthday celebrators last year is completed, the MAC will immediately start the distribution to 31,209 seniors who celebrated their birthdays from January to June this year.
Based on available data, as of July 25, the MAC had delivered birthday cakes to recipients in various barangays: Rizal, 1,940 cakes; Pio del Pilar, 1,939; Pembo, 1,825; Cembo, 1,592; Tejeros, 1,382; West Rembo, 1,334; Olympia, 1,279; East Rembo, 1,297; Bangkal, 1,295; Palanan, 1,112; San Antonio, 976; San Lorenzo, 875; Bel-Air, 825; Comembo, 807; Guadalupe Nuevo, 767; South Cembo, 755; and Guadalupe Viejo, 706.
Other deliveries were made to Pitogo, 693; Southside, 662; La Paz, 554; Kasilawan, 493; Poblacion, 461; Magallanes, 450; San Isidro, 424; Santa Cruz, 400; Valenzuela, 384; Singkamas, 369; Urdaneta, 310; Carmona, 292; Forbes Park, 199; Pinagkaisahan, 426; and Northside, 110.
From an initial P3,000 burial assistance, the BLU Card was later expanded to include cash gifts given twice a year, free groceries every Christmas, free cakes and the P100,000 cash gift for centenarians.
With the approval last December of an additional P1,000 cash gift for BLU card holders, members are now entitled to annual cash gifts depending on their age bracket: 60 to 69 years old, P3,000; 70 to 79, P4,000; and 80 years and older, P5,000. The cash gift is given in two equal installments every June and December.
For this year P326.2 million has been allocated by the city government for the cash gift to seniors and centenarians.
Other privileges granted by the city to elderly residents include unlimited free entrance to all Makati cinemas, free tours to famous tourist destinations in the country (Lakbay Saya), free salon and spa services and a grand welcome party for new senior citizens.
For its free-movies program, the city has allocated P35 million for this year, and P1.5 million for Lakbay Saya.
Every year the city government hosts a grand party to welcome residents who have turned 60 years old to the city’s elite Tribe of Senior Citizens. It is also at the party when the new tribe members receive their BLU Card. If they are qualified for the midyear or year-end cash gift, they will also receive their first P1,500 cash incentive. This year P472,500 has been allocated by the city government for the welcome party.