Northern Mindanao — Local social welfare and development offices and offices for the Federation of Senior Citizens Association of the Philippines (FSCAP) here will be getting their hands full this year as they partner with the Department of Social Welfare and Development in the implementation of the Social Pension for Indigent Senior Citizens.

Local social welfare officers and FSCAP presidents will meet with the DSWD for the first two weeks of August this year to determine their roles in the implementation of the Social Pension. The DSWD will orient them on the various administrative orders relative to the program in Bukidnon, Camiguin, Misamis Oriental, Lanao del Norte, and Misamis Occidental.

The Social Pension is the national government’s initiative to augment the needs of indigent senior citizens in compliance to Republic Act 9994 or the Expanded Senior Citizens Act.

The Social Pension provides P500 per month to each qualified senior citizen for his or her medications, food, and other necessities that are important to their well-being.

Qualified senior citizens are those aged 66 years old and above and are not beneficiaries of any other social pension such as GSIS and SSS. They also need to have a certification of indigence issued by their barangay office or local social welfare and development offices located at their municipal or city office.

The Field Offices, City or Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officers under the Local Government Units, and Office of Senior Citizens Affairs validate the qualifications of the senior citizens. Even Barangay Officials, FSCAP, Senior Citizens Organizations, NGOs, youth volunteers, barangay health workers, and other groups also assist us in the validation.

If qualified, the 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 are required to bring their Office of the Senior Citizens Association (OSCA) ID and proof of date of birth.

Today, there are now more than 48,000 senior citizens in Northern Mindanao who are receiving social pension from the DSWD.

Written by Charmaine P. Tadlas, DSWD