THE Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) warned today that a number of elderly will be delisted from the Social Pension Program.

“We will be delisting non-eligible elderly in the program. While we know this might offend some but we have to follow the guidelines,” said Rebecca P. Geamala, regional director.

Geamala said that a recent report forwarded to her shows that there are non-qualified senior citizens who were included by the Local Government Units (LGUs).

As per DSWD guidelines, only the following can avail: a. aging 60 years old and above; b. who are frail, sickly or with disability, c. with no regular income or support from family and relatives, and d. without pension from private or government institutions

“Some are receiving pension also from GSIS and SSS. That is a big no-no. No matter how small they are receiving in their pension from such agencies, they cannot avail the social pension from the government because we have to abide by the guidelines,” she said.

Geamala said the agency is reaching to the LGUs to effect immediately the delisting on those who are not qualified.

“We also enjoin the Office of Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) and the Federation of Senior Citizens Association of the Philippines (FSCAP) to ensure that only those qualified get the pension./dswd6/May Rago-Castillo