BY: JUJU M. EMPUERTO
CEBU CITY, July 1 (PIA) --- The Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office (DSWD-7) will now transfer the funds to the local government units (LGU) for the Social Pension for Indigent Senior Citizens, said Kerwin Macopia, DSWD-7 Informaton Officer for Listahanan.
Macopia added that the LGUs will distribute the stipends to the indigent senior citizens whose names are listed in the consolidated order of payment provided by the DSWD-7.
“DSWD introduces this new scheme in order to fasttrack the distribution of cash assistance to the beneficiaries," said Regional Director Mercedita Jabagat.
Jabagat emphasized that “these entail an additional task for the lgus; however we are grateful for their continued support in accepting the new challenge.”
Currently, there are 59 identified LGUs out of the 132 LGUs in Region 7 that are qualified for the fund transfer for these identified LGUs have no unliquidated funds for any DSWD programs, said Macopia.
He added that in order for LGUs to have the fund transfer, they need to prepare and submit the required documents such as the project proposal, a Sangguniang Bayan resolution authorizing the mayor to enter into MOA with DSWD and sign the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA).
The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) allocated P208,752,000 for Region 7.
For this year, DSWD-7 have identified 34,792 beneficiaries for the said program.
Macopia stressed that his office and the LGU will conduct monitoring activities to ensure smooth implementation of the program,
Social workers of DSWD-7 will conduct spot checking and field office representatives shall witness during the pay-out, he added.
The social pension is one of the social protection programs of DSWD that provides P500 monthly stipends for indigent senior citizens.
Those that are qualified for the program are 77 years old and above, frail, sickly, or have disability; not receiving pension from Social Security System (SSS), Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), or Veterans Pension and do not have permanent source of income or regular support from relatives.
The monthly financial assistance aims to improve the living condition of eligible indigent senior citizens to help them in their needs such as medicines and food. (rmn/jsme/PIA-Cebu/DSWD-7)