The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Central Visayas has started releasing today the cash grants under the Unconditional Cash Transfer (UCT) to some 47,289 social pensioners who are indigent senior citizens.

Social Pensioners in the town of Minglanilla, Cebu receive their UCT cash grant today.

Of the 47,289 social pensioners, 18,628 are from Bohol and the 28,661 are from Cebu.

The national government’s UCT program is provided for by the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law.

Based on the joint circular of DSWD and the Department of Finance (DOF) and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) on the UCT program implementation the funds will be lodged with the Land Bank and to be used in accordance to the operational guidelines of DSWD.

The UCT cash grant is a top up benefit for Pantawid Pamilya partner-beneficiaries and Social Pensioners who are also receiving their regular cash grant and cash stipend.

The UCT is considered the biggest tax reform mitigation under the TRAIN law which seeks to provide 10 million beneficiaries with cash subsidy amounting to Php 200 per month for 2018 and Php 300 per month for 2019 and 2020. ###

Lola Julita Plarisan, 84 years old, Lolo Celestino Vaflor, 85 years old and Lolo Emiliano Masayon, 96 years old, of Barangay Sto. Nino, Toledo City were all happy when they received the government’s social pension implemented by the Department of Social Welfare and Development through door-to-door delivery.

Social pension refers to the monthly stipend of Php 500 to indigent senior citizen.

Beginning this pay-out for the third quarter, social pensioners receive the money right at their door steps.

“Dako akong kalipay nga gihatod na gyud sa balay ang hinabang sa goberno. Kining hanap na akong panan-aw, maglisod na gyud kog lakaw (I am happy that my social pension is now delivered in the house. My eyes cannot clearly see now, it would be hard for me to go out),” says Lolo Emiliano.

Lolo Celestino, who at 85 years old still tend the farm as tenant-farmer, also expressed elation of the new payment scheme. “Gawas nga lisod na para kanako nga tigulang na, di na usab kami mogasto sa pamasahe paglugsong sa syudad aron mokuha sa kwarta (I am happy that our pension is now delivered door-to-door because it is already hard for me to go down to the city and I do not have to spend for the fare anymore), “said Lolo Celestino.

Lola Julita, 84, said the new scheme helps her a lot because she has been on medication will no longer have to travel to the city.

Lola Julita happily accepts her social pension from the government worth Php 1,500.

The social pension for indigent senior citizens is given every quarter. It aims to augment the capacity of indigent senior citizens to meet their daily subsistence and medical needs, reduce the incidence of hunger and protect them from neglect, abuse or deprivation.

The social pension is given to 60 years old and above who are frail, sick or with disability and without pension from the GSIS, SSS or AFPMBAI and other private insurance company, no permanent source of income or regular support from relatives to meet their basic needs.

At present, Region VII has a total of 57,567 senior citizens who are receiving the stipend of Php 500 per month or Php 1,500 per quarter. ###

More indigent senior citizens are now part of the Social Pension Program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office VII.

In its first year of implementation, only those 77 years old and above were covered by the Social Pension Program. However, for 2016, 60 years old and above can already benefit from the program.

Social Pension pay-out in the town of Antequera, Bohol.

“We just lower the age to accommodate more indigent senior citizens but the other criteria are still the same,” clarified Regional Director Ma. Evelyn B. Macapobre.

Qualified to receive the monthly pension are seniors who are:  frail, sickly, or with disability; without pension from Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), Social Security System (SSS), Armed Forces & Police Mutual Benefit Association, Inc. (AFPMBAI), and other insurance companies; and, without any permanent source of income or regular support from his or her relatives.

“The monthly financial assistance aims to help them in their basic needs such as buying of their medicines and food,” Macapobre said.

Macapobre also acknowledge the support of the Local Government Units (LGUs) in region 7 in the fast track payment of the stipend to the identified senior citizens.

For 2016, DSWD-7 added 18,936 social pensioners to the previous 65,219 beneficiaries. Now, it reaches to 84,155 social pensioners for the said program.

The social pension is one of the social protection programs of DSWD that provides Php 500.00 monthly stipends for eligible indigent senior citizens. ###

For 2015, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) lowers the age qualifications of indigent senior citizens who can receive the social pension from 77 years old to 65 years old.

The social pension is one of the social protection programs of DSWD that provides Php 500 monthly stipends for eligible indigent senior citizens.

Qualified for the program are those 65 years old and above; frail, sickly, or have disability; not receiving pension from Social Security System (SSS), Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), or Veterans Pension and do not have permanent source of income or regular support from relatives.

DSWD-7 Regional Director Mercedita Jabagat said the program’s new provision will benefit more senior citizens.

“This new provision is approved under the General Appropriations Act for CY 2015,” Jabagat added.

“The monthly financial assistance aims to help them in their basic needs such as medicines and food,” Jabagat underscored.

Director Jabagat also clarified that based on the guidelines being an active member for any senior citizens associations is not a pre-requisite to avail the financial assistance from the department.

“I encourage the public to immediately report to their City or Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office or to the Regional Office if there are issues in the implementation of the program,” she added.

Meanwhile, Local Government Units (LGUs) can now also directly distribute the monthly stipend.

The LGUs will be the one to distribute the stipend to the indigent senior citizens whose names are officially listed in the consolidated order of payment.

Currently, there are 34 LGUs that can distribute stipend to senior citizens. These identified LGUs have no unliquidated funds from any DSWD programs.

For 2015, DSWD-7 added 18,258 social pensioners to the previous 34,792 targeting a total of 53,050 beneficiaries for the said program. ###

The Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office-7 will now transfer the funds to the local government units for the Social Pension for Indigent Senior Citizens.

The LGUs will be the one to distribute the stipend to the indigent senior citizens whose names are listed in the consolidated order of payment provided by the DSWD-7.

“The DSWD introduces this new scheme in order to fast track the distribution of cash assistance to the beneficiaries”, said Regional Director Mercedita Jabagat.

 “This would be an additional task for the local government units; however we are grateful for their continued support in accepting this new challenge”, Jabagat emphasized.

Currently, there are 59 identified LGUs out of the 132 LGUs in region 7 that are qualified for fund transfer. These identified LGUs have no unliquidated funds from any DSWD programs.

In order for LGUs to have the fund transfer, they need to prepare the required documents such as project proposal, Sangguniang Bayan resolution authorizing the mayor to enter into MOA with DSWD and signed Memorandum of Agreement (MOA).

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) allocated an amount of Php 208,752,000 for region 7.

For 2014, DSWD-7 identified a total of 34,792 beneficiaries for the said program.

To ensure smooth implementation of the program, the regional office and the LGU will conduct monitoring activities.

For DSWD, the social workers will conduct spot checking and the representatives from the field office will witness during the pay-out.

The social pension is one of the social protection programs of DSWD that provides Php 500 monthly stipends for indigent senior citizens.

Qualified for the program are those 77 years old and above; frail, sickly, or have disability; not receiving pension from Social Security System (SSS), Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), or Veterans Pension and do not have permanent source of income or regular support from relatives.

The monthly financial assistance aims to improve the living condition of eligible indigent senior citizens to help them in their needs such as medicines and food.