CEBU CITY – The Department of Social Welfare and Development said it will transfer funding for social pension for indigent senior citizens to the local governments.
The local government units shall distribute the stipends to the beneficiaries whose names are listed on the consolidated order of payment provided by the DSWD.
DSWD Regional Director Mercedita Jabagat said the new scheme is aimed at hastening the distribution of cash assistance to the beneficiaries. “DSWD introduces this new scheme in order to fast-track the distribution of cash assistance to the beneficiaries,” she said.
Jabagat said the new scheme will entail an additional task for local government units. “We are grateful for their (local governments) continued support in accepting the new challenge,” she said.
At present, there are at least 59 local governments out of the 132 in Region 7 that are qualified for the fund transfer. But in order for the local governments to have the fund transfer, it needs to prepare and submit the required documents such as the project proposal, a Sangguniang Bayan resolution authorizing the mayor to enter into an agreement with DSWD which shall be signed by the chief executive and representative of the DSWD.
The Department of Budget and Management has allocated more than P208 million for some 34, 792 beneficiaries for Region 7. Both the local governments and the DSWD will monitor the implementation of the program with social workers and field office representatives witnessing the pay-out.
The pension is one of the social protection programs of DSWD that provides P500 monthly stipends for indigent senior citizens.
Those that are qualified for the program are 77-years old and above, frail, sickly, or have disability; not receiving pension from Social Security System, Government Service Insurance System or Veterans Pension and do not have permanent source of income or regular support from relatives.
The monthly financial assistance aims to improve the living condition of eligible indigent senior citizens to help them in their needs such as medicines and food. (Juju Empuerto)
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