JOINT CIRCULAR FOR ELDERLY, PWDs. Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Rex Gatchalian (2nd from left), together with (from left) National Council on Disability Affairs OIC Deputy Executive Director Dandy Victa, Department of Budget and Management Director Sofia Yanto-Abad, and National Commission of Senior Citizens chairperson Franklin Quijano show the signed Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) No.1, s. 2023 following ceremonies at the DSWD Central Office in Quezon City on Friday (Dec. 15, 2023). The JMC provides the guidelines on the proper reporting, monitoring, and utilization of funds for projects, programs, and activities for senior citizens and persons with disability (PWDs). (PNA photo by Ben Briones)
MANILA – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and three other government agencies on Friday signed Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) No.1, Series of 2023 that provides the guidelines on the proper reporting, monitoring, and utilization of funds for projects, programs, and activities for senior citizens and persons with disability (PWDs).
The three other JMC signatories are the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA), and the National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC).
In his message following the signing ceremony at the DSWD Central Office in Quezon City, DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian said the newly-signed agreement is set towards the right direction to make the whole government accountable to two of the most vulnerable sectors in society – the elderly and PWDs.
“We will turn it into real action by making sure that all government agencies, from the national government all the way to the LGUs (local government units), actually come up with programs that are meaningful and go beyond tokenism,” Gatchalian said.
In a message read by DBM Director Sofia Yanto-Abad, Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman assured senior citizens and PWDs that the Budget department will fully support the smooth implementation of the JMC.
“Through the issuance of this JMC, we trust that the monitoring and evaluation of the agencies implementing relative programs, projects and activities, in coordination with the NCSC and the NCDA, will translate towards a better set of data that will drive more meaningful future policy developments responsive to the emerging and holistic needs of older persons and persons with disability,” she said.
NCDA officer-in-charge Deputy Executive Director Dandy Victa emphasized the importance of investing in the target sectors to help them become productive citizens.
"We advocate for this basic economics that persons with disability should be part of a market, which means that disability support services are available for the development needs… but these cannot be realized without the government investing in the human capital development of all sectors, including older persons with disability,” Victa said.
He added that with this policy, there would be an instrument that will ensure the programs and activities; and that projects for senior citizens and persons with disability are properly implemented, monitored, and evaluated.
NCSC Chairman Franklin Quijano, meanwhile, reinforced the message of monitoring the agreement.
“We will be watching everyone, (and) to use and support this JMC for the senior citizens and persons with disability,” he said.
The new JMC provides provisions on the reporting and monitoring process of all agencies of the government toward the judicious implementation of Section 36 of the General Provisions (GP 36) under Fiscal Year 2023 General Appropriations Act (GAA).
“All agencies of the government shall formulate plans, programs, and projects intended to address the concerns of Senior Citizens and Persons with Disability, in so far, as it relates to their mandated functions and integrate the same in their regular activities,” the JMC read.
The JMC mandates collaboration among the four government agencies to monitor and evaluate the implementation of the provision of the GAA, which requires all agencies of the government to coordinate plans, programs, and projects that will address the concerns of senior citizens and persons with disability.
Seniors in Palawan jails reviewed for social pension eligibility
Meanwhile, DSWD Assistant Secretary for Legislative Affairs and agency co-spokesperson Irene Dumlao reported that some 449 elderly persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) confined at the Maximum and Medium Security Compound of several jails in Puerto Princesa City in Palawan have undergone evaluation to determine their eligibility for social pension.
“We, at the DSWD, stay true to our commitment to provide programs and services to the vulnerable and marginalized sector, including elderly PDLs. We conducted this process so we can establish a clean list of beneficiaries and ensure that our senior citizens are qualified for the social pension program,” she said in a statement.
“The conduct of validation is the initial step to determine whether a senior citizen qualifies as a beneficiary based on the criteria of the Social Pension for Indigent Senior Citizens Program,” said Dumlao, who is also the DSWD data protection officer.
She said the assessment was done last Dec. 6-7 by the DSWD Field Office-Mimaropa, in collaboration with the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) and the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) of Puerto Princesa City, at the Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm Central Station, Inagawan Sub Colony, Montible Colony, and the Sta Lucia Colony.
The Social Pension for Indigent Senior Citizens is given to any elderly, aged 60 years old and above, who is frail, sickly, or with a disability, and without a pension or permanent source of income, compensation, or financial assistance from his or her relatives to support his or her basic needs.
Under the program, senior citizens are entitled to get PHP500 per month, or PHP6,000 annually. (PNA)
