CAGAYAN de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez today said that the social pension of indigent senior citizens will now be released on a quarterly basis starting the first month of 2022.
Currently, the P500-monthly social pension of senior citizens is released every six months by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), according to Rodriguez.
The announcement came after House deputy speaker Rodriguez made a query on the status of the release of the social pension during the Committee on Appropriations hearing on the proposed 2022 budget of the DSWD.
"We intend to implement the pay-out for every quarter starting this first quarter of year 2022," DSWD Secretary Rolando Bautista said to Rodriguez.
CDO Seniors who are receiving social pension have been complaining to Rodriguez that present system of payment every 6 months is too long and they need the pension badly for their medicines, vitamins and food.
Earlier, Rodriguez filed Resolution No. 1047 in July 2020 which directs the DSWD to pay the social pension for indigent seniors citizens on quarterly basis instead of every six months.
In support of this proposal, the House leader also filed Bill No. 9459 which seeks to provide additional pension for indigent seniors from P500 to P1,000.
The Rodriguez bill was approved by Congress last August 2, 2021 and is currently in the Senate for another round of deliberations.
“Now, more than ever, our senior citizens are the most vulnerable due to the pandemic. In fact, they need their pension on a monthly basis for food and medicine,” said Rodriguez, adding that he proposed to increase their monthly pension to P1,000 from the present P500.
“I am glad that my bill has been approved by the House, and after Senate approval, I am hoping for it to be signed as law by President Duterte,” said Rodriguez. (Ben Balce)
