THE families of departed senior citizens thanked Governor Dennis Pineda for still releasing the financial assistance accorded to the elderly despite their demise.
The Provincial Government deemed it wise to still release the checks to the families of the deceased seniors, as they were the ones who shouldered the load of caring for their loved ones when they were still alive.
Pineda recognized the need to at least show a token gratitude to the families who dutifully took care of their elderly relatives despite financial difficulty.
Guizela Lapid, daughter of the late 97-year-old beneficiary Victoria Lacsamana, praised Pineda for understanding the needs of families with dependent elderly relatives.
“Malaking tulong ito. Itong program ni Governor, kasi pwera doon sa nakatulong siya sa financial state namin. Hindi po matutumbasan yung saya niya yung natanggap niya yung pera noong nabubuhay pa siya. Para kasing na-acknowledge yung ilang years niyang pagseserbisyo bilang teacher noon. Pangalawa, noong magkasakit siya, malaking tulong syempre yung mayroon ka nang mapagkukunan ng initial na gastos kaya maraming salamat talaga kay Governor Dennis,” Lacsamana said.
Lacsamana’s mother was one of the 48 beneficiaries of the incentive program for seniors by the Pineda administration for 2022. For 2022 alone, some P4.8 million had already been given to senior citizens and their families.
This program was implemented by virtue of Provincial Ordinance 683, series of 2014, or “An Ordinance Enacting the Senior Citizen Code of the Province of Pampanga.” Initially, only those who reached 100 years old were entitled to receive the incentive.
It can be noted that Pampanga is the pioneer in the distribution of cash incentives to centenarians worth P100,000. Ordinance 647 or the Senior Citizens Code was then amended by the Provincial Board, lowering the age of the beneficiaries from 100 to 95 years old.
The administration of Pineda had provided financial support to seniors under the said program, amounting to P32.5 million, benefitting some 325 beneficiaries.