THE Cagayan de Oro City Council approved to expand the membership coverage of senior citizens who will receive monthly social pension.

This means that an additional 500 slots will be open to more senior citizen, or around 2,000 members can now avail the financial stipend worth P1,500 per quarter.

The increase comes after the demand of more indigent senior citizens pleading to avail the social pension funded by the City Government.

Also, the city council increased the monthly financial incentives of the chapter presidents of senior citizens organizations from P300 to P500.

Under the Social Pension Program, an indigent senior citizen receives a P500 monthly pension.

The Social Pension Program is an assistance to indigent older persons in accordance to the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010 or Republic Act 9994.

Under the law, an elderly, 60 years old and above, is qualified to receive the P500 monthly pension if he or she is frail, sickly or with disability; without any pension from other government agencies; and without a permanent source of income or source of financial assistance to support his or her basic daily subsistence expenses and basic medical needs. (PJ Orias)