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Solon pushes for quarterly release of seniors' pension

Philippines | National

Solon pushes for quarterly release of seniors' pension

By Ellson Quismorio

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) should ramp up delivery of the P500 monthly pension of indigent senior citizens given the hardships caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Cagayan de Oro 2nd district Rep. Rufus Rodriguez said on Friday.

Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez (FACEBOOK / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)

Under a Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) memorandum circular, the P500 monthly financial aid is to be given to seniors “every six months at P3,000 per semester.”

Rodriguez suggested the current practice should be changed, making it possible for beneficiaries to receive the pension every three months.

The lawyer-solon suggested this scheme in his House Resolution (HR) No.1047, maintaining, “Due to lockdowns and quarantines in many parts of the country, many businesses struggled, resulting in loss of jobs for many Filipinos, including senior citizens who are still productive members of society. Now more than ever, these indigent senior citizens need financial assistance from the government."

Rodriguez noted that many beneficiaries of the government’s social pension program in Cagayan de Oro City and other parts of the country have complained to him about the six month wait as being too long.

Earlier, Rodriguez, himself a senior citizen, urged the Social Security System (SSS) an additional P1,000 increase in the monthly pension of private sector retirees.

He reminded SSS officials the adjustment has been delayed for over a year.

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