By Anthony S. Allada
MAGSAYSAY, Davao del Sur, Aug. 10 (PNA) – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has continued to provide a monthly cash grant to 997 Social Pension beneficiaries in the municipality.
Facilitated by the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO) here, the provision of the cash assistance usually takes place on the second week of the month. This time, the 22 barangays are divided into three groups to avoid overcrowding at the MSWD office.
“The pensioners coming from the first seven barangays – Dalawinon, Kanapolo, Kasuga, Mabini, New Opon, Upper Bala, and Blocon — are advised to come on August 11 while the schedule for the other seven barangays will be on August 12 and the remaining six barangays will be on August 13,” Zaldy Bueno, Senior Citizen focal person said.
Social Pension is a government program that provides Php500-monthly stipend to indigent senior citizens aged 77 years old and above.
The National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction (NHTS-PR), also known as “Listahanan,” is an information management system that the government uses in identifying who and where the poor are.
The NHTS-PR aims to address poverty through a scientific and target-focused strategy.
Identification of social pensioners was based on the Listahanan database and listing submitted by the Local Social Welfare Officers, and the Federation of Senior Citizens in the various localities.
The Social Pension for indigent senior citizens is one of the provisions under Section 5 of Republic Act 9994, or the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010. (PNA)