Cagayan de Oro — Indigent senior citizens aged 60 years old and above are now covered under the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s Social Pension Program.

This after the budget appropriate for the Social Pension for 2016 was increased to more than P8.7 Billion per General Appropriations Act of Fiscal Year 2016. The Program expanded its coverage from 65 years and above to 60 years old and above.

The Social Pension Program provides cash subsidy of P500 per month to indigent senior citizens for their health needs such as medicines and food. Qualified beneficiaries are those who are certified as “poor” by their local government unit and who are not beneficiaries of any other social pension and social insurances such as those of GSIS, SSS, and AFPSLAI.

The DSWD, City or Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officers under the Local Government Units, and Office of Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) validate the qualifications of the senior citizens. Even Barangay Officials, Federation of Senior Citizens Associations of the Philippines (FSCAP), Senior Citizens Organizations, non-government organizations, youth volunteers, barangay health workers, and other groups also assist DSWD in the validation.

Qualified senior citizens may apply at the City or Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office under the local government unit. They can also apply at the Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA). They should bring a photocopy of OSCA ID and Proof of Date of Birth.

Beneficiaries of the Social Pension can claim their stipends at the OSCA or City/Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office

The Social Pension for Filipino Indigent Senior Citizens Program started last January 2011.

Written by Charmaine P. Tadlas, DSWD