Tacloban's senior citizens get pension

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines — At least 1,950 indigent senior citizens of Tacloban City have received their social pension from the city government headed by Mayor Cristina Romualdez, through the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO).

The distribution of the social pension, from March 3 through 31, was facilitated by the City Treasurer’s Office, and the succeeding releases for this year will be coursed through the Veterans Bank, according to CSWDO chief Remedios Buna. The pension pay-out of P3,000 each covers the first and second quarters of 2016, she said.

The social pension’s monthly stipend of P500 was aimed to provide the poor senior citizens cash for their basic needs, such as food and medicines, and it will keep them motivated and active in any activity, said Buna.

Romualdez said the welfare of the city’s senior citizens has been among her priority concerns, in addition to the services accorded them such as medical and burial assistance.

As mandated by Republic Act 9994, or the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010, those who are qualified to avail of the pension program are the Filipino elderly who are sickly, disabled, with no income or any other means of livelihood, no pension from private and government entities, and no regular support from relatives.

Meanwhile, the number of pension beneficiaries has increased from 1,950 last year to 4,810 this year, after the required age for senior citizens was lowered from 77 years old to 77 years old, Buna added. (FREEMAN)