PORAC officials led the distribution of social pension to dozens of senior citizens here that have qualified for the program.
The Social Pension Program for Indigent Senior Citizens is one of the provisions under Section 5 of Republic Act 9994 otherwise known as the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010.
The social pension is the additional government assistance in the amount of P500 monthly stipend to augment the daily subsistence and other medical needs of needy senior citizens.
To qualify for the social pension program, a senior citizen must be 77 years old and above, frail, sickly and disabled, without a regular source of income and/or support from any member of the family, and not receiving other pension benefits from government and private agencies.
The qualified senior citizens may apply at the Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs (Osca), the City or Municipal Social Welfare Development Office or a DSWD Regional Office. Applicants or their representatives must bring an Osca ID, birth certificate and certificate of indigency upon the application of the program.
However, only citizens who have no pension from private or government institutions, regular income, or support from their families may enroll in the program while those who have pensions from Social Security System (SSS) or Government Service Insurance System are not qualified.
The Porac seniors qualified for the pensions after validation conducted by the Department of Social Welfare and Development. The seniors of the town enjoy social programs from the municipal government aside from the social pension program.
Local officials are active in extending financial and medical support to seniors in need as well as supporting the activities of the local seniors' organizations in the town.