195,934 senior citizens in ZamPen get Php3K from DSWD
ZAMBOANGA CITY, June 25 (PIA) – 195,934 qualified senior citizens all over the region will receive Php3,000, or 6 months-worth of social pension during on-going pay-outs. Under the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) social pension program, qualified senior citizens are to be provided with a monthly subsidy of Php500 to assist them in their needs.
The amount disbursed covers the first six months of the year.
DSWD IX confirms that based from their list, out of the total 195,934 beneficiaries, Zamboanga Del Norte has 68,140; Zamboanga del Sur has 64,808; Zamboanga Sibugay Province has 36,949; Zamboanga City has 21,837 and Isabela City has 4,200.
The distribution started last June 2, 2020 assisted by the City and Municipal Social Welfare and Development Offices (C/MSWDOs) in the provinces and cities.
Senior Citizens in Zamboanga City expressed their gratitude to the government for assisting them as the social pension they received will be a big help especially in this time of health crisis.
However, for the beneficiaries who are bed ridden or have no capacity to go to the payout areas and receive their social pension, DSWD IX Regional Director Fatima Caminan advises the LGU to assist the payout for these beneficiaries.
“We ask for the beneficiaries to also inform their LGU (regarding their situation) immediately during the payout,” she added.
The distribution of the social pension is still on going. Beneficiaries or their families are advised to coordinate with their local government for the schedule of pay-outs.
The government grants social pension to senior citizens who are frail, sickly or with disability; without any pension from other government agencies; and without a permanent source of income or source of financial assistance/compensation to support their basic needs. Implemented by the DSWD through the local government, the Social Pension is a program under Republic Act No. 9994 or the “Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010” which provides monthly stipend amounting to PHP500 to indigent senior citizens to augment their daily subsistence and other medical needs. (NBE/MLE/PIA9-Zamboanga City)
source https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1045826