PHILIPPINES: Needy senior citizens get additional pension

CALAMBA CITY / Philippine Information Agency / May 6, 2011

By Carlo P. Gonzaga

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Calabarzon held an orientation recently on the Social Pension Program for Indigent Senior Citizen to equip local government units on the operational guidelines in the implementation of the program. 280 senior citizen affairs officials from Cavite, Batangas, Laguna, Rizal and Quezon attended.

Social pension for indigent senior citizens is in line with government’s mandate to provide assistance and protection to the vulnerable sectors. Guidelines detail the prioritization: first priority are aged 80 years old and above; second priority are aged 70-79 years old and the third priority are aged 60-69 years old.

Illustrative photo of elderly entitled to additional pension in the Philippines. Courtesy: loqal.ph

Indigent senior citizens are frail, sickly or with disability, and without pension or a permanent source of income, or regular support from any relative to meet the basic needs.

Each qualified indigent senior citizen will receive a monthly stipend of P500 as augmentation to their daily subsistence and other medical needs. Distribution of stipend in the provinces of CALABARZON region (Cavite, Batangas, Laguna, Rizal and Quezon) started in the first semester of this year.

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