SUBIC, Zambales — LAKAS-Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD) vice presidential candidate Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte on Sunday said the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) should explore possibilities of giving pension to all senior citizens.

“Kailangan po natin kausapin ang DSWD at ipa-intindi sa kanila na kailangan nating ulitin ang sistema ng pagbibigay ng pension para lahat ng ating mga senior citizens ay nabibigyan ng tulong galing sa DSWD,” Duterte said before a 3,000-senior citizen crowd in Barangay Aningway Sacatihan here.

Duterte said the senior citizens’ pension has been a common challenge among local government units, including Davao City.

“Ganon din po sa amin. Nagka-problema po kami dahil ang pension po na binibigay ng DSWD minsan hindi dumadating. Pangalawa, hindi nabibigyan lahat dahil pinipili nila ‘yung bibigyan. Hindi nila sinasali yung mga merong SSS (Social Security System) at GSIS (Government Service and Insurance System),” Duterte said.

Duterte said she has already discussed the matter with DSWD.

“Sabi ko, ‘Mam, sa sobrang hirap po ng buhay ngayon, kahit may pension po yan ng SSS at GSIS, napupunta lang po yan sa utang, sa mga gastusin sa pang-araw-araw. Wala na pong napupunta sa kanila kung ano yong gusto nila na gamitan o bilhin sa kanilang pera’,” Duterte recounted.

The mayor revealed that the Davao City government has already intervened to resolve the issue by creating an ordinance providing fair pension benefits to them since they cannot overrule a national law.

“Ang ginawa po namin temporarily doon sa Davao City, para lang po mabigyan lahat at pantay-pantay po ang estado ng senior citizens, gumawa po kami ng local pension,” she said.

“Gumawa kami ng ordinansa na lahat ng senior citizen, 65 and above ang inuna namin pero sa susunod na mga taon ibaba na namin sa 60 — lahat po sila binibigyan namin ng pension,” Duterte added.

Lucita Enalobo, 81 and a resident of Barangay Calapandayan, expressed her happiness over Duterte’s understanding of their plight.

“Masaya kami dahil magkakaroon na ng pension lahat at pantay-pantay,” Enabolo said.

Enablobo has been a pensioner since 2001, but she admits the P2,000 monthly financial support is not enough for her monthly needs. She has been under medication for high blood pressure, and has been recently diagnosed with a kidney problem.

Duterte, since the start of her campaign, has been highlighting her advocacy for equality among Filipinos.

She was in Zambales Sunday for the 20th day of the Mahalin Natin ang Pilipinas Ride (MNPR).

Earlier Sunday morning, she met with the officials of the province led by Governor Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. and Vice Governor Jay Khonghun along with all the 13 town mayors and vice mayors.