Island Garden City of Samal, May 28, 2015 - A
total of 1,898 indigent senior citizens received a pension of P1,500 pesos for
the first quarter of 2015 for the span of 3 months (January-March) from the Department
of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) through City Social Welfare and
Development (CSWD) under the Senior Pension Program for the three
districts all over Samal Island from May 19-22.
The pensioners received P500 pesos monthly
in which the Payout will be given quarterly to them.
The said program was implemented under Section 5
of Republic Act 9994 otherwise known as Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010,an
act granting additional benefits and privileges to senior citizens, further
amending Republic Act No. 7432, as amended, otherwise known as “an act to
maximize the contribution of senior Citizens to nation building, grant benefits
and special privileges and for other purposes”. In other words indigents can
receive additional government assistance in the form of the Social Pension for
Indigent Senior Citizens, which amounts to a monthly stipend of P500.
For this year, the Department of Social Welfare
and Development (DSWD) R.O. 11 added 1,011
beneficiaries in IGaCoS which gave happiness and hope for
those indigent senior citizen who were not yet a member of the group in their
barangay to benefit in the said program.
The cut off age of indigent senior citizen who
can possibly qualify for the said program are elders ages 65 and above but as
to the guidelines, elders ages 70 above who are not able to be part of the said
program will be prioritized this year especially if they are not receiving any
pension and is in need of help.
An 85 -year old woman named Hilaria Banac from
Barangay Limao was just one of the indigent senior citizen who was able
to receive her three months pension. According to her the said program
seemed a blessing because she can now buy food, medicines and other necessities
to sustain her daily needs.
According to focal person of senior citizen in
Island Garden City of Samal Mrs. Jelly S. Richa ,deserving indigent senior
citizens defines as any elderly who is sickly or with disability, without
pension or permanent source of income, compensation or financial assistance
from his/her relatives to support his/her basic needs. (MLA Samal Info)
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