BUTUAN CITY – At least 61,431 benefited from the Social Pension (SocPen) for Indigent Senior Citizens program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in this region from January to February this year.
“The number represents 33.36 percent of the total target number of beneficiaries for the SocPen program this year,” the DSWD-13 (Caraga Region) said in a statement Tuesday.
During the period, some PHP184 million in cash aid was released to the beneficiaries, the agency added.
“As the payouts continue, schedules for the remaining municipalities and cities in Caraga are coordinated through the local social welfare and development offices for them to further disseminate information to our beneficiaries,” the DSWD-13 said.
The agency is also conducting continued validation and revalidation of potential beneficiaries in the region through the local government units (LGUs).
“The collaboration with the LGUs ensures that the allocated slots available for the senior citizens are accurately appropriated,” the DSWD-13 said.
The agency also called on the beneficiaries “to be always within reach” so they can claim their stipends during the release of the SocPen benefits and avoid delisting.
The availability of the beneficiaries in their stipulated locations will also help the agency and the LGU during the validation and revalidation processes. (PNA)
