STARTING this year, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office VI is targeting 394,256 elderly in the implementation of the Social Pension Program.

Records show that an amount of P2.3 billion is allocated for this.

“Our target is actually five times bigger than our coverage in 2016. This means that we will be reaching more senior citizens,” said Rebecca Geamala, regional director.

In 2016, only 78,706 were targeted in the region.

The pensioners will be receiving P500 per month to be released at P1,500 every quarter or a total of P6,000 per year.

The program aims to augment the daily subsistence and other medical needs of indigent senior citizens.

It is in line with the fulfilment of the obligation of the government to protect the most vulnerable sector through social protection, and for the full implementation of the Republic Act 9994 or the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010.

It also aims to improve the living condition of eligible indigent senior citizens./dswd6/May Rago-Castillo