Tuguegarao City-True to its commitment in serving the poor, marginalized, and vulnerable sectors of the society, the Department of Social Welfare and Development Field office 02 (DSWD F02) continues to give out 1st semester (calendar year 2020) social pension stipends for the Social Pension Program (Soc Pen).
Mr. Fernando Bainto, DSWD FO2 Social pension focal person, revealed that as of July 11, 2020, the Field Office has already disbursed a total of 607,899,000 pesos or 92.67% for 202, 633 social pensioners for 93 Local Government Units (LGUs) where 92 adopted a fund transfer method while 1 LGU facilitated a cash payout mode.
“Agyaman nak la unay ka da kayo iti daytuy nga inpaay yu kadakami. Dakkel nga katulungan daytuy nga naawat ku nga pangigatang ti makan kin agas. Agyaman nak ti kinaimbag ti gobiyerno ta haan da kami binaybayan” (I am very thankful for the help you have given us. I will use this to buy food and medicine. I am also thankful to the government because they are looking out for us) says Franciso Cadiz, upon the receipt of his pension.
The ninety-year old social pensioner is a resident from Santa Maria, Cauayan city Isabela, who despite on his old age and his dependence on a walking stick is still able to attend the pay out and receive his grant.
SocPen is a program under Republic Act No. 9994 or the “Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010” which provides monthly stipend of PhP500.00 to indigent senior citizens to augment their daily subsistence, medical needs, among others.
The law unequivocally provides that seniors qualified to receive social pension are those 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.
###Story by Jeslymar Layugan