The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) appealed anew to senior citizens and persons with disability (PWDs) to avoid going out of their homes to claim their financial assistance from the local government units (LGUs) but, instead send their authorized representatives.

The different LGUs in the NCR Plus bubble are currently distributing the financial assistance to their qualified constituents. While there are LGUs that are conducting house-to-house distribution  of the aid, especially to vulnerable sectors like senior citizens and PWDs, others have opted for big venue payouts where beneficiaries need to line up.

The DSWD explained that seniors and PWDs may send younger and healthier members of their families as their authorized representatives to claim their aid. To claim the aid, the representatives may need to show their ID, the senior citizen’s ID,   and the authorization letter signed by the elderly-beneficiary.

Meanwhile, the DSWD also reminded organizers of relief distribution drives to properly coordinate with concerned LGUs to ensure the proper and orderly conduct of the activities, especially if there are participants from the vulnerable groups.

The DSWD said that senior citizens and PWDs are the most vulnerable to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Even the resolution issued by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Infectious Diseases emphasized that those 60 years old and above and have health risks are advised to stay at home amid the pandemic.

The Department continues to put premium on the safety and welfare of the older persons and PWDs especially during this ongoing global health crisis. ###