SOCIAL PENSION. Antique Vice Governor Edgar Denosta hands over the social pension from the provincial government to an elderly on Nov. 21, 2023. Region 6 Protective Services Division chief Katherine Joy Lamprea said in an interview Thursday (Nov. 23) that the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has completed the release of benefits for 29 centenarians and 41,927 indigent senior citizens in Antique as early as October. (Photo from Office of Vice Governor Denosta)
SAN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA, Antique – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has completed the release of the benefits for 41,956 indigent senior citizens including centenarians in Antique for this year.
DSWD Regional Office 6 Protective Services Division chief Katherine Joy Lamprea said in an interview Thursday that 29 centenarians received PHP100,000 each while 41,927 indigent seniors availed of the PHP6,000 annual pension.
“In the province of Antique, the DSWD was able to complete the payout to the centenarians and indigent seniors on Oct. 27,” she said.
The benefit for the indigent seniors is released twice a year; for the first semester, DSWD completed the payout in April and October for the second semester at PHP3,000 per distribution.
Meantime, Republic Act 10868, or the Centenarian Act of 2016, honors and grants privileges and benefits to Filipinos reaching the age of 100.
In a media forum here on Wednesday, Lamprea urged local government units (LGUs) to have a similar program to assist their senior citizens.
“We are urging the LGUs to replicate this program because they have the power and authority to fund,” she said.
If the LGUs could only provide PHP200 per indigent senior per month, she said it could already help them buy food and other basic needs.
In Antique, the amended Provincial Ordinance Number 144 or the "Elderly Welfare and Development Code of the Province of Antique,” provides a yearly social pension for 85-89 years old in the amount of PHP2,000, 90-94 years old with PHP3,000, 95-99 years old with PHP5,000 and 100 years old and above with PHP30,000. (PNA)
