AC gets P1.2-M for elderly social pension program

ANGELES CITY – The city government here on Tuesday received P1.2-million from Department of Social Welfare and Development Region III (DSWD-3) for its elderly social pension program.

During the 15th Session of the Regional Development Council held January at Century Resort Hotel here, Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan formally received the check from DSWD-3 Director Gemma Gabuya. The P1.2-million is part of the augmentation support program of the DSWD to local government units under Republic Act 9994 or the Expanded Senior Citizens Act.

“The financial support is part of our compliance to the law where indigent senior citizens are entitled to receive P500 social pension per month. We release the amount on a quarterly basis,” said Gabuya.

City Social Welfare and Development Officer Joy Duaso said that the turned over amount will assist more than 800 beneficiaries that were identified by the Office for Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA).

For his part, Pamintuan expressed his thanks to the DSWD-3 for their unwavering support to the city of Angeles, particularly for its programs intended to uplift the lives and promote the rights of the senior citizens.

“The amount is indeed a great help to our constituents especially to our senior citizens in the community. We will make sure that the government is putting the elderly sector to its priorities as they are acknowledged by the city as valuable contributors,” he said.

Aside from the sustained social pension, the city government of Angeles has initiated various programs that aims to support the improvement of the total wellbeing of the Angeleño elderly such as the yearly “Lakas Sigla para kina Lolo at Lola,” free vaccines and free medical check-ups.