Both were heavy equipment operators of a milling company in Talisay City until their retirement decades ago. But they’ve remained friends for 25 years. And though they lived quite near each other at Barangay Dos Hermanas, it’s been a while since they last shared a hearty conversation until this week’s distribution of the quarterly allowance from the office of Talisay City Mayor Neil E. Lizares III.

FOREVER BESTIES. Best of friends (standing) Loreto Salvador, 77 years old of Purok Tangkong and former Barangay Kapitan Honorable Aurelio Arimas, 75 years-old of Purok Kulitis both of Barangay Dos Hermanas thanked Talisay City Mayor Neil Lizares III for the increased 450 pesos allowance for senior citizens from a measly 150 pesos in the previous administration (Photo by Starlyn Casiano)

Former Barangay Kapitan Hon. Aurelio Arimas of Purok Kulitis and Loreto Salvador of Purok Tangkong came very early Friday morning to claim each their P 450.00 quarterly allowance. Same old stories, same old hi-hellos but Aurelio and Loreto couldn’t be more than thankful for an increase in their allowance as they at least could have something more to buy for their maintenance medicine.

SAVING THE BEST FOR LAST. Around 928 senior citizens from Barangay Dos Hermanas availed of the 450 pesos second quarter culmination of the distribution of transportation allowance from the office of Talisay City Mayor Neil E. Lizares III (Photo by Starlyn Casiano)

"Mayor Neil, salamat sa imo nga ginhatag nga benepisyo. Daku gid nga bulig sa amon nga kakulangon sa amon bulong,” says 75-year old Arimas.

"Kami nagapasalamat sa imo Mayor Neil kay sang una ang P150.00 daw indi gid maka-igu makasustener sang amon bulong pero subong nalipay kami kay ini nagtaas,” 77-year old Salvador also added.

BIGGEST RECIPIENT BARANGAY. Barangay Dos Hermanas is the biggest recipient barangay of the quarterly release of allowances for senior citizens among 27 rural and urban barangays in Talisay City. Close to half a million pesos was released this week by the office of Mayor Neil E. Lizares III for 928 elderlies of Barangay Dos Hermanas (Photo by Starlyn Casiano)

As they hoped that Lizares will be given the means to accord the elderly more benefits, Arimas and Salvador could not thank Lizares more than enough for the continuing support, love and concern bestowed on all senior citizens of Talisay.

Being one of his landmark programs, Lizares has earmarked close to P 4 million support fund every quarter for close to 9,000 elderlies of Talisay City. The distribution of the second quarter allowance was culminated at Brgy. Dos Hermanas this week. The Office for Multi-Sectoral Affairs of Executive Assistant Farah Jayme is set to release the 3rd quarter allowance covering the months of July-September 2017 in the upcoming quarter.

Story and photos by Starlyn Casiano