Social pensioners tripled in Catbalogan City

CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar, June 9 -- The number of poor senior citizens in this city entitled to monthly social pension has increased from 1,000 in 2016 to 3,000 this year.

Maricel Aquino, city social welfare and development office focal person on senior citizen program, said on Friday that the national government has increased the budget allocation for the program, prompting them to list more recipients. 

Under the existing laws, all indigent Filipino senior citizens in the country from 60 years old and above must be included in the program.

The qualified senior citizens may apply at the Office of Senior Citizens Affair (OSCA). Among the requirements are identification cards, birth certificate, and certificate of indigence. 

Catbalogan City has more than 4,000 registered senior citizens. The eligible recipient is entitled to a monthly pension of PHP500. 

“Only those who are below the poverty threshold or those who are not receiving pension or any kind of financial support will receive the cash incentive,” Aquino said.

The amount is small compared to the medical needs of senior citizens, but this is also a big help, according to Aquino. The city government personally distributes cash to beneficiaries in all 57 villages every three months.

“We used to do the distribution at the city hall, but Mayor Stephany Uy-Tan saw that it’s inconvenient to senior citizens, which is why she ordered to change the system of distribution,” Aquino said. (Roel T. Amazona/PNA)