The Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office Caraga (DSWD FO Caraga), Social Pension for Indigent Senior Citizens (SocPen) program completed its 2022 payouts to 187,785 senior citizens in the region surpassing its target of 184,700 beneficiaries disbursing Php1,087,357,500.00.
The number of beneficiaries per head count and corresponding amounts of assistance per province were tallied as follows: Agusan del Norte with 44,545 beneficiaries at Php257,620,500.00; Agusan del Sur – 48,364 (Php280,278,000.00); Province of Dinagat Islands – 11,660 (Php67,642,500.00); Surigao del Norte – 37, 608 (Php217,335,000.00); and Surigao del Sur – 45, 608 (Php264,481,500.00).
Protective Services Division (PSD) Chief Jessie Catherine B. Aranas highlighted the efforts of the Social Pension Program Management Officers (SPPMO) in doubling their efforts to exceed the Agency’s Office Performance Contract (OPC) that meant they have catered more beneficiaries that need the government assistance.
Social Pension Program Focal Person Rachel B. Bade on the other hand expressed her gratitude to the Local Government Units (LGUs), “We are always thankful for the assistance and cooperation of the LGUs for the full implementation of the Social Pension Program that has been instrumental to the success of its performance in 2022.”
ON STIPEND RAISE
The SocPen program implementation is in line with the fulfilment of the obligation of the government to the most vulnerable sector through social protection and for the full implementation of RA 9994 or the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010.
It provides a monthly stipend amounting to PHP500 to augment the daily subsistence and other medical needs of indigent senior citizens.
According to Aranas during the SPPMO’s first quarterly meeting last January 13, 2023, the monthly stipend amounting to PHP500 will remain as it is until DSWD Central Office (CO) releases implementing rules and guidelines for stipend increase.
This is an answer to the public’s queries after Republic Act No. 11916, an act increasing monthly pension of qualified senior citizens under the Social Pension for Indigent Senior Citizens program of the government to Php1,000 from Php500, lapsed into law last July 30, 2022.
It can be recalled last August of 2022, former Secretary Erwin T. Tulfo said that it will be in his best efforts to plead to the congress for an additional funding for the Agency to be able to implement the law.
DSWD is committed in the continued work and consultation with its other stakeholders, particularly the National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC), to enhance the implementing guidelines of the program before its implementation.
Aranas added that if there will be any changes, DSWD Caraga will make an official announcement and will be giving its best efforts to implement the changes that will bring about a significant impact on the lives of its beneficiaries.
Moreover, the distribution of stipends has been changed from quarterly (every three months) to semestral (every six months).
