THE Davao City Government is planning to give P3,000 annual pension to senior citizens, as a counterpart to the Department of Social Welfare and Development's (DSWD) yearly pension of P6,000.
Councilor Wilberto Al-ag, on Monday, October 7, revealed the city's plan during the culmination of the National Elderly Filipino Week at the Davao City Recreational Center (Almendras Gym).
Al-ag, who chairs the City Council committee on social services, said the proposal will be approved on third and final reading Tuesday, October 8.
"Partial pa lang na nga amount, pero aduna ta iparehas sa Manila ug Cebu (This is only a partial ammount. We will counterpart the amount similar to Manila and Cebu)," Al-ag said, adding that the city government is finding ways to finance this.
DSWD has been providing since 2011 a P6,000 pension annually to indigent senior citizens under the Social Pension Program for Indigent Senior Citizens, as mandated under Republic Act 9994 or the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010.
However, senior citizens receiving pension from the Social Security System (SSS) and Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) are not qualified to benefit DSWD's pension.
Meanwhile, Al-ag said all Davao City-residing seniors who is a member of a senior citizen association accredited by the Office of the Senior Citizens (Osca), will be able to avail themselves of the city pension.
"Wala na kaayo'y requirement. Basta senior citizen ka, maka-avail ka (There will be no further requirements. As long as you are a senior citizen, you can avail)," he said.
He also said the pension will be given directly to the association president, which they will be tasked to allocate it to their members.
"Alang sa atong mga bedridden nato nga members, ang CSSDO (City Social Services and Development Office) na mismo ang magtunol sa pension sa ilang balay mismo (For our bedridden members, CSSDO will personally deliver the pension to their house)," Al-ag said.
The councilor said the proposed pension will be given every second week of November, yearly.
Based on the Commission on Elections (Comelec) 11's 2019 data, the city has an estimated 140,000 senior citizen registered voters. While DSWD, with the same year, recorded an estimated 80,000 active members who availed the agency's annual pension.
Federation of Senior Citizens of Davao president Albina Sarona said the proposed pension will benefit senior citizens who are financially struggling daily especially when it comes to their medication.
"Nalipay kaayo'g dako ang mga miyembro sa senior citizens kay first time in history nga ang City Council gitagaa'g bili ang grupo sa mga senior citizens (Senior citizen members are rejoicing with this development, because it is the first time in history that the City Council gave importance to the senior citizens)," Sarona said.
However, she said the Council needs to legislate more ordinances to cater to the needs of senior citizens. (With Elijah Romero, UM Intern)