The city government of Manila will start the distribution of monthly financial assistance for its residents who are solo parents and persons with disabilities (PWDs) in early December.

Citing the report of the Manila Department of Social Welfare (MDSW), Mayor Honey Lacuna said Thursday the beneficiaries would each receive PHP3,000, representing the PHP500 monthly cash aid from July to December this year.

The grant would benefit the city’s 17,000 solo parents and some 33,000 PWDs, she added.

At the same time, Lacuna urged solo parents and PWDs to ensure that their identification cards are updated or not expired.

The IDs for solo parents are renewable every year while those for PWDs are renewable every three years.

MDSW chief Ma. Asuncion Fugoso said the renewal of these IDs aims to ensure that the solo parents and PWDs remain as such and they continue to be residents of Manila.

Meanwhile, Lacuna said the cash allowance for the city’s senior citizens has already been processed and will be released soon.

According to the report of the City’s Office of Senior Citizens’ Affairs (OSCA), some PHP180,000 elderly residents would each receive PHP2,000, representing the PHP500 monthly allowance from September to December this year.

They are also set to get the usual Christmas gifts which are being provided by the city government every year.

The provision of monthly cash assistance to senior citizens, solo parents and PWDs is part of the social amelioration program of the city government.

The program also covers Grade 12 learners and students of the two city-run universities — the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila and the Universidad de Manila. (PNA)