DSWD disburses P232M for indigent pensioners

THE regional office of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD 11) bared it already disbursed a total of P232,590,500 as of May for Social Pension Program for Indigent Senior Citizens.

DSWD 11 Regional Director Mercedita Jabagat said on Monday that in Davao region alone, there are a total of 118,767 identified members of the program who are eligible to receive P500 a month or P1,500 government assistance every three months.

Of the total budget earmarked for this program pegged at P712,602,000, only P232 million had so far released. The Compostela Valley has P57.6

million for the 22,170 beneficiaries, Davao Oriental P53.9 million (22,599) senior citizens, Davao del Norte P64 million (22,645), Davao del Sur P56.8 million (18,935), Davao Occidental P31.9 million (12,131) and Davao City P59 million (20,287).

The assistance is intended for their medication and daily needs. It started in 2011 through the Republic Act 9994 or the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010 which aims to improve the living condition of eligible indigent senior citizens and to protect them from neglect and deprivation.

Senior citizens aged 60 and above who have no pension from private or government institutions, regular income, or support from their families may enroll in the program. However, Jabagat cited that they will only receive new applications after the passing away of a beneficiary leaves a vacancy.

“Annually we have an increase and the most is 10 percent so ang chance ng mga senior citizen sa social pension is if in their area someone died [another will be replaced],” she said, which will be based on the waiting list.

She noted that right now, they only have replacement but no additional enrollees for this year yet due to limitation of the budget allocation.

Some of the senior citizens were not also catered because local government units usually prioritize citizens who are frail, bedridden, and those who are above 80 in age.