Some 8,425 indigent senior citizens in the National Capital Region are now receiving their social pension under the Social Pension Program implemented by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
Each pensioner receives P500.00 per month or P1,500 quarterly as financial assistance for food expenses and medical needs in compliance with Republic Act 9994 or the Expanded Senior Citizen Act of 2010 which states that the indigent senior citizens get five hundred pesos (P500.00) monthly stipend.
According to the Department of Social Welfare and Development – National Capital Region (DSWD-NCR) Director Ma. Alicia S. Bonoan, beneficiaries of the social pension program were vigorously selected from the data of the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction (NHTS-PR), and from the recommendations of the Office of Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) and City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO).
Rosario Elemento, from San Juan City, whom at age 84 still does scavenging to earn for a living, was thankful for the social pension she receives quarterly.
“I am thankful for the assistance received from the government. It helps me to buy food and medicines,” said Rosario in Tagalog.
To ensure that the beneficiaries belong to the indigent families, Bonoan explained that the OSCA and the CSWDO, with the help of senior citizens organizations conducted verifications and home visitations to assess the qualifications of the social pensioner applicants.
“As part of validation, DSWD cooperates with other agencies such as the Social Security System (SSS), Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), and the Armed Forces and Police Mutual Benefit Assistance, Incorporated (AFPMBAI), to check if the social pensioners are not receiving any pension from these offices,” she concluded.
The social pensioners are those indigent senior citizens who are 77 years old and above and do not receive regular support from relatives or any financial institution.
DSWD allocated P11,665,500 for payment of social pension for the second quarter pay-out which started in June 25 and will end on July 30, 2013.###