Only indigent seniors entitled to TRAIN subsidy

MANILA, Philippines — Not all senior citizens in the country will receive the P2,400 subsidy for those who will be affected by the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law.

Acting Social Welfare Secretary Virginia Orogo clarified that only those identified as indigent senior citizens are qualified for the unconditional cash transfer (UCT), which aims to cushion the impact of the new tax reform law on poor Filipinos.

Those qualified are the ones who are already part of the social pension program for indigent senior citizens, which provides P500 monthly allowance to three million beneficiaries.

“We really want to provide the subsidy to all senior citizens in the country, but our priority as of now are those seniors who are indigent,” Orogo said.

“We are asking for the public’s understanding as the government cannot afford to provide the aid to all. We prioritize those who are really in need,” she said.

Last week, Orogo led the pilot payout of the UCT for indigent senior citizens in San Fernando, Pampanga.

The DSWD chief said they target to finish the release of the UCT to all qualified senior citizens by next month.

The entire budget is expected to be released to all beneficiaries by September.

In addition to the indigent senior citizens, also qualified to receive UCT are 4.4 million beneciaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pamilya Program and another 2.6 million beneficiaries listed under the government’s national household targeting system for poverty reduction or Listahanan.

Orogo said the DSWD is doing its best to provide sustainable aid to poor Filipinos affected by the TRAIN Law.

“What we want is a sustainable help and not just a stop-gap measure,” Orogo said, adding that what they are studying, with the help of other government agencies, is to address poverty in a sustainable way and manner.