PENSIONERS. Thousands of indigent elderly from the City Proper district troop to Barangay Veterans Village gymnasium for the distribution of social pension on Wednesday (July 18, 2018). (Photo by Perla Lena)
ILOILO CITY -- Some 2,191 indigent elderly pensioners from the City Proper district received their social pension for the two quarters of this year.
Each indigent elderly received PHP3,000 during the distribution held at the gymnasium of Barangay Veterans Village on Wednesday.
“This really favors us. At least we know that our government really looks after our welfare,” said 74-year old Delia Mapeso from Barangay Tanza Baybay.
She will use the amount she received to pay their electric bills and buy food and medicine.
Rodolfo Sarmiento, 69 years old from Barangay Legaspi de la Rama, said he was happy because he now has money to spend at home, especially to buy rice.
The Social Pension Program for Indigent Senior Citizens (SPISC) serves as additional assistance of the government to qualified beneficiaries. The monthly stipend of PHP500 is expected to augment their daily subsistence and other medical needs.
In Iloilo City, 13,190 indigent senior citizens are qualified to avail of the SPISC, according to data from the City Social Welfare and Development Office.
The distribution started on Tuesday in Molo district, where 2,369 beneficiaries were given the social pension.
The distribution in Lapuz and Mandurriao districts will be on Thursday for 983 and 1,471 recipients, respectively and La Paz district on Friday with 1,959 beneficiaries.
The distribution will resume on July 24 in Jaro for 1,943 recipients and Arevalo district July 25 for 1,959 seniors. (PNA)
