DSWD gives pension to 857 Mt Province elders

By Juliet B. Saley

BONTOC, Mountain Province -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development recently released P1,285,500 as social pension 857 indigent senior citizens of this province.

Joy Adaclog of the Social Welfare and Development office here said the amount covers the first quarter (January to March) pension of this year.

Of the total beneficiaries, 138 were from Tadian, 106 each from Besao and Paracelis, Sabangan, 103; ninety each from Bauko and Natonin, Sadanga, 88; Sagada, 60; Barlig, 51 and Bontoc, 25.

Adaclog said senior citizen beneficiaries from Barlig, Bontoc and Paracelis have already received their
social pension of P1,500 each.

The P500 monthly social pension is part of the government’s efforts to provide and care for its elderly population as stated by Republic Act No. 9994 or the Expanded Senior Citizens Act.

Qualified to avail of this program are senior citizens who are 77 years old and above who are frail, sickly, or with disability, and without pension or regular source of income, compensation or financial assistance from their relatives to support their basic needs, as determined by the DSWD.