MORE than 7,000 senior citizens in the city have claimed their social pension from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) this week.

The city has over 40,000 senior citizens in the city but only those who are registered at the Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs (Osca) received the pension.

The distribution was held in a mall here to make sure that the senior citizens are comfortable while waiting for their turn.

Senior citizens receive P1,500 social pension for the 4th quarter of this year.

The first batch of pensioners came from barangay Lapasan, Cugman, F.S. Catanico, Puerto Gusa, Agusan, Tablon and Bugo. The distribution started last week until last Wednesday.

Qualified senior citizens can still apply at the Osca, the CSWD, or at the DSWD Regional Office. Applicants or their representatives must bring an Osca ID, birth certificate and certificate of indigence upon the application of the program.

Under the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010 or RA 9994, the Social Pension for Indigent Senior Citizens is an additional government assistance which aims to improve the condition of indigent senior citizens by augmenting their daily subsistence and medical needs; reduce incidence of hunger; and protect them from neglect, abuse, deprivation and natural and man-made disasters.

Indigent senior citizens shall be entitled to a monthly stipend amounting to P500 to augment their daily subsistence and other medical needs.