DSWD purges pensioners list in W. Visayas

ILOILO CITY—The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will remove unqualified pensioners in Western Visayas from its list of beneficiaries.

“We will be delisting non-eligible elderly in the program. We know this might offend some people but we have to follow the guidelines,” said DSWD Regional Director Rebecca Geamala.

Reports reaching Geamala’s office showed that non-qualified senior citizens have been listed by local government units (LGUs) in Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo, and Negros Occidental provinces.

It also found that some senior citizens are receiving pension from Social Security System (SSS), Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO), or other insurance companies.

“That’s a big no-no. No matter how small they are receiving from other pension programs, they cannot also avail from DSWD,” Geamala said.

Judith Tanate-Barredo, DSWD regional focal person for Social Pension, said there are 365,908 senior citizens in Western Visayas who receive P500 per month or P6,000 per year from the government.

DSWD will update its list of qualified beneficiaries and asked LGUs to cooperate in the verification process.

Based on DSWD guidelines, only indigent senior citizens aged 60 and older can receive social pension.