MAYOR Cristina G. Romualdez talking to Senior Citizens lined-up to receive a City Government assistance. The welfare of Senior Citizens is a priority concern of Mayor Romualdez as manifested by the services available for the elderly residents of Tacloban at the CSWDO, among them the provision of financial assistance, medical assistance and  burial assistance.

TACLOBAN CITY – The City Government under Mayor Cristina G. Romualdez has announced that it has scheduled the pay-out of the Social Pension for indigent Senior Citizens this  August 7.  Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) Chief Remedios Buna said that some 4,374 indigent Senior Citizens of this City are set to receive the Government Stipend starting  Monday next week until the last week of August.

According to Buna, the pension pay-out covers the first and second quarters of 2017 amounting to 4,500 and will be released at the Cash  Division of the City Treasurer’s Office located at the City Hall Main Building from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.

Buna said that the pensioner should  personally claim the stipend; in cases when a pensioner is unable to claim the pension, the CSWDO  can make arrangements for the assistance to be delivered to his home.   The CSWDO has distributed in advance  priority numbers to the pensioners to facilitate orderly releasing of the pension.

Republic Act 9994 or the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010 provides that Elderly Filipino citizens, sickly, disabled, no income or any other means of livelihood, no pension from private and government pension bodies, and no regular support from relatives are qualified to avail of the pension program.

The monthly stipend of 500 pesos is used by beneficiaries to buy basic necessities such as food and medicines. Likewise, it was learned that the allowance keeps the elderly recipients motivated and active in any activity related to their sector.

Indigent Senior Citizens  has to submit the following requirements to the Office of Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) or the CSWDO to avail of the social pension: Filled out Application Form (copies are available at the OSCA and CSWDO), Copy of Baptismal or Live Birth Certificates and Barangay Certification, stating the applicant is a bonafide resident of the Barangay.

Meanwhile,  senior citizens wait-listed for the Social Pension in Tacloban receive Supplementary Food Packs from the City Government. –  HENRY JAMES G. ROCA/CIO