The Provincial Government of Palawan released the pension for the elderlies in the different towns through the Local Social Pension Program for Indigent Senior Citizens, a statement from the Provincial Capitol said on Friday.
The personnel of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office disbursed and distributed the social pension to senior citizens. Each beneficiary received P1,500 for the month of July to December 2018.
The program, funded by the provincial government, is separate from that of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
Helen Bundal, population officer II of the PSWDO, said that the beneficiaries of the pension from the provincial government will receive P250 monthly while indigent senior citizens who are beneficiaries of the national government’s social pension will receive P500 monthly.
“Ang pagkakaloob ng local social pension para mga indigent senior citizen sa lalawigan ay pagtugon ng Pamahalaang Panlalawigan sa Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010 na nag-aatas sa mga lokal na pamahalaan na pagkalooban ng buwanang pension ang mga kapus-palad na nakatatandang mamamayan sa kani-kanilang lokalidad upang makatulong sa kanilang pangangailangan partikular sa pagkain at gamut,” said Palawan Provincial Information Office.
Aside from the local social pension, the provincial government likewise implemented programs for the elderly like the financial assistance, medical assistance, provision of medicines and other services intended for the senior citizens.
The beneficiaries of the program are the poor senior citizens or those ages 60 years and above, and residents of Palawan.
The provincial government of Palawan is the only province in the region that implements this separate program for senior citizens, specifically allocating funds for those who are not covered by the national government’s social pension program.