Taguig Mayor Lani Cayetano Wednesday distributed to eligible claimants burial assistance checks worth P2,000 each.

The Public Information Office (PIO) reported that some 200 beneficiaries gathered at the Taguig City Hall Auditorium last week where they claimed their monetary assistance from Cayetano.

Cayetano disclosed that most of the checks intended for burial assistance were ready for distribution as early as February. “These checks have long been signed and completed, but were not handed out by the previous administration,” she said, noting that the checks were “long overdue.”

“I see that these have been signed by the former city administrator. Gawa na pala pero hindi naman ibinigay (These were completed but not distributed),” the mayor claimed.

“I’m sorry that this was delayed during the last administration. I apologize for their shortcomings. But I am the mayor now, and these checks will be given to you,” Cayetano said.

Evelyn Arago, executive assistant of the local Department of Social Welfare and Development office, facilitated the distribution of the checks by calling the beneficiaries’ names one by one.

One of them, 43-year-old Imelda, waited eight months to get the assistance which she sought following the death of her father, 77-year-old Bienvenido Arce, last December 29, 2009. Arce was a resident of Bagong Tanyag.

“Matagal akong nag-antay. Pero ok na rin ngayon dahil may makukuha pa rin ako kahit paano (I waited for a long time. But it’s ok since I’d still be able to receive something),” the woman said.

Imelda said she filed for the benefit last January but eventually, she joined her family in Mindanao after she got tired of waiting for the past administration to award the money.