BACOLOD CITY — The City Social Services and Development (DSSD) office released some PHP2.32 million in cash assistance to 1,547 senior citizens here for the second quarter of the year.
The financial aid, granted under the government’s Social Pension Program, were distributed from September 24-26 at the lobby of the Bacolod City Government Center.
Each beneficiary received PHP1,500 or PHP500 per month, for the months of April, May and June. They claimed their first quarter pension in July.
On Monday, a total of 429 senior citizens received their social pension while 818 others also got theirs on Tuesday.
About 300 more pensioners were expected to claim their cash assistance on Wednesday.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) implements the Social Pension Program, which is provided under the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010 or Republic Act No. 9994.
Senior citizens qualified to receive the PHP500 monthly pension are those who are frail, sickly or with disability; without any pension from other government agencies; and without a permanent source of income or source of financial assistance/compensation to support their basic needs.
The age requirement of beneficiaries has been lowered to 60 years, with additional funds as provided for by Republic Act No. 9994.
Initially, only senior citizens aged 77 and above received the pension, but the age was later lowered to 65 and then 60 years old. (Nanette Guadalquiver/PNA)
