DSWD-7 starts distribution of social pensions to 54,760 indigent seniors in NegOr

MINERVA BC NEWMAN

DUMAGUETE CITY – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-Field Office VII started last week its distribution of the social pensions for the 54,760 social pensioners in Negros Oriental, each to receive P3,000 per semester.

DSWD-7 Regional Director Rebecca Geamala visited some towns in Negros Oriental that conducted the payout to check on the actual payout implementation and urged her staff to ensure that each beneficiary receives the pension he/she badly needs to help with their expenses.

"Try your best to locate them and make sure that all of them are paid," Geamala added

According to Leah Quintana, DSWD-7 regional information officer that the Social Pension payouts for the other municipalities and cities around Negros Oriental, Cebu, Bohol, and Siquijor are also ongoing.

She said that the beneficiaries were notified through the Local Government Unit (LGU) officials for the venues and schedules of payouts.

Not all senior citizens in the LGUs are automatically included in the Social Pension because DSWD prioritized those who are indigents, without any pension, and no support from the family members. “The eligible ones went through a validation process,” Quintana said. (Photos: DSWD7)