Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna announced on Thursday that instead of birthday cakes, senior citizens will have the option to receive cash gifts instead from their city government.
Lacuna said she and Vice Mayor Yul Servo are already in talks with stakeholders to amend an existing city ordinance on the matter.
The re-electionist mayor noted that a good number of senior citizens suffer from diabetes or could no longer regulate their blood sugar levels. Some just don’t enjoy the cakes anymore.
Lacuna said she has consulted with senior citizens, who indicated their preference for cash gifts on their birthdays instead of cakes. This way, they can have the freedom to choose what to buy for themselves.
Once the conversion of birthday cakes into cash takes effect, Lacuna said it will complement the increased monthly senior citizens allowance, which her administration doubled from P500 to P1,000 a month—also through an ordinance she signed last year.
