DSWD to release indigent elderly’s social pension every 3 months
THE Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is set to release the social pension of indigent senior citizens every three months, instead of every six months, starting next year.
The new payout schedule is contained in DSWD Memorandum Circular No. 16, issued by Secretary Rolando Bautista recently.
It was based on House Resolution (HR) No. 1047 authored by Deputy Speaker and Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez and his representations during budget deliberations on the DSWD 2022 budget.
Rodriguez said indigent senior citizens need financial assistance for their food and maintenance medicines, most especially at this time of Covid-19 pandemic.
“How can seniors pay for food, check-ups, medicines, vitamins, and other necessities if their pension is paid every six months?” he asked.
He thanked Secretary Bautista for heeding his appeal to release the pension every quarter rather than every six months.
In a statement, the DSWD said social pension recipients affected by quarantine restrictions can send their authorized representatives to claim their stipend.
The representative shall present the original and photocopy of the representative’s valid identification (ID), pensioner’s valid ID, an authorization letter indicating the representative’s legal name, and certification from the village that it is on lockdown.
It can also be noted that Rodriguez also filed Bill No. 9459, which seeks to double social pension for indigent senior citizens to P1,000 a month.
The bill was approved by the House in August and is currently pending in the Senate for another round of deliberations.
