Cordillera Administrative Region- As of 11 September 2019, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) here through its Social Pension Program for Indigent Senior Citizens (Social Pension) has identified 74,101 senior citizens eligible to receive the stipend amounting to PhP 500.00 a month as stipulated in Republic Act 9994 or the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010.

This is out of the 85,047 target social pensioners in the Region.

“Earlier this year, we have started the validation of our social pensioners. Our personnel conducted one on one validation to the senior citizens”, OIC- Regional Director Leo L. Quintilla said.

The result of the validation was forwarded to the DSWD Central Office for cross-matching with other pension-providing institutions.

Department Memorandum Circular 04, Series of 2019 reiterates that only senior citizens who are frail, sickly or with disability, and does not receive pension from the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), Social Security System (SSS), Armed Forces and Police Mutual Benefits Association, Inc. (AFPMBAI), the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO), and other insurance institutions are qualified to be included in the program.

Senior citizens who do not receive any regular support from family/ relatives or do not have a permanent source of income are also considered for the program.

“This cleansing aims to further improve our service delivery. We hope that through this, we will be able to serve those who are really in need. We would also like to ask for your understanding. For those who are found to be ineligible but are still in need, we still have other programs that you can avail of as long as you qualify and comply with the existing guidelines”, Director Quintilla shared.

A total of 59,822 social pensioners have already received their stipend for the 2nd quarter of 2019. Eligible social pensioners who did not receive their stipend due to various reasons can still claim their stipends during the scheduled 2nd semester payout in their respective municipalities. Meanwhile, those who are still for validation need to wait for the result which will be downloaded by the Central Office.

DSWD-CAR is also working closely with the DSWD Central Office on the additional funds for the payment of the 4th quarter of 2018 grant of around 19,000 social pensioners in the region.

Meanwhile, Social Pension stipends will now be released every semester. For the 2nd semester, payouts will commence on October 2019. Pensioners are expected to receive PhP 3,000.00 which will cover their assistance for the 3rd and 4th quarter of 2019.

“We would like to assure our social pensioners that we are doing our best to facilitate the release of their stipends. We would also encourage you to help us in this endeavor. Our office is open to your reports, feedbacks, or comments”, Director Quintilla added.

Concerns on the Social Pension Program may also be directed to the Field Office at # 40 North Drive, Baguio City or through (074) 661 0430 or www.facebook.com/dswdfocar. #DSWD-CAR, SOCIAL MARKETING UNIT, Nerizza Faye G. Villanueva