DAGUPAN CITY (PIA) – A total of P5,580,000 worth of social pension under the Social Pension Program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-Field Office 1 was released by the department to indigent senior citizens in Tayug town on Friday.

Shiela Corpuz, municipal social workers and development (MSWD) officer of Tayug, said that indigent senior citizens are entitled to a monthly stipend amounting to P500.00 to augment their daily expenses and other medical needs.

“The social pension for indigent senior citizens is an additional government assistance mandated under Republic Act 9994 otherwise known as the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010,” Corpuz said.

Corpuz said elderly citizens who are entitled to the social pension program of DSWD are those who are indigent, sick, disabled, frail, have no regular or permanent source of income, receive no financial assistance from family members or relatives, and do not receive any other pensions from the Social Security System, Government Service Insurance System, or other institutions.

She advised all qualified senior citizens needing financial assistance from DSWD for their relative to submit either a photocopy of any valid ID (indicating the birth date of the qualified beneficiary) or the birth certificate of the senior citizen to the nearest Office of the Senior Citizens' (OSCA) Affairs or MSWD office to avail of the social pension program of the government.

OSCA Head Marietta Pada and Federation President Clarita Valdez also expressed gratitude and appreciation for the government's support which will help cover the everyday expenses of indigent senior citizens in Tayug town.

Meanwhile, Tayug Mayor Tyrone Agabas thanked the national government for the program and vowed to continuously support the promotion of the welfare and rights of the elderly. (JCR/AMB/RPM/PIA Pangasinan)