ILOILO City – The Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) here clarified to members there is no renewal of their identification cards (IDs).
What is going on now is replacement of IDs, stressed Executive Assistant for Senior Citizens Eleanor Gregorio.
Some IDs are already worn out, she explained
There is no urgency in replacing the IDs, Gregorio added.
While Mayor Jerry Treñas wants a uniform design for senior citizens’ IDs, Gregorio clarified, too, that even if the IDs are not replaced, these would still be honored and considered valid.
“Ginakasubo naton nga nabutang sa limelight ang OSCA because of an announcement nga seguro wala lang naintindihan,” she said.
Treñas got alarmed by reports that senior citizens were making long queues as early as 1 a.m. in front of city hall just so they could “renew” their IDs and beat the alleged Sept. 20 deadline.
“The word ‘renew’ is not correct. Wala expiration ang aton ID,” said Gregorio.
She also disclosed that the OSCA would be transferred from the second floor to the ground floor of city hall for the convenience of senior citizens.
To secure a new ID, OSCA members must bring proof of residency and birth certificates or any government-issued IDs indicating their date of birth to prove that they are 60 years old or above.
Their presence is also needed since OSCA will capture ID photos of them.
Those incapable of going to city hall would be visited by OSCA personnel in their homes upon request, said Gregorio./PN