DSWD seeks P4.8B budget to fund allowances to senior citizens in 2015 Like and/or Share This Article: m.kickerdaily/dswd-seeks-p4-8b-budget-to-fund-allowances-to-senior-citizens-in-2015/ MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) proposed a P4.8 billion budget for 2015 to fund its social pension program for thousands of senior citizens, reports said. On a report posted by GMA News on Monday, nearly 740,000 senior citizens will benefit from the proposed budget for the DSWD’s Social Pension for Indigent Senior Filipino Citizens program and it said that these beneficiaries may receive a P500 monthly pension once approved. The proposed budget is 53.2 percent higher than this year’s P2.87 billion allocation, but this is because the beneficiaries also doubled its number from 479,080 this year to 739,609 senior citizens in 2015. Under the Republic Act 9994 or the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010, it is stated that “indigent senior citizens shall be entitled to a monthly stipend amounting to Five hundred pesos (Php500.00) to augment the daily subsistence and other medical needs of senior citizens, subject to a review every two (2) years by Congress, in consultation with the DSWD.” However, at present, not all senior citizens can avail of this monthly allowance as DSWD prioritizes on giving it to seniors ages 77 years old and above; those who don’t receive any pension from Social Security System or Government Service Insurance System, those who don’t have any retirement pensions, those who have disabilities, especially those who do not have sources of income or support from their families. “With the incremental funding, we expect a greater number of indigent seniors, including those in the 65 to 76 age bracket, to benefit from the monthly stipend,” to Makati City Rep. Abigail Binay stated on Sunday. On the other hand, Bacolod City Rep. Evelio Leonardia has filed House Bill 4697 that amends Section 4 (a) of Republic Act No. 7432 or the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010. He cited that land, air, and sea transportation fare grants 20 percent discount for the elderly, but Leonardia’s seeks to include a 20 percent discount on all terminal fees in airports, seaports and bus or vehicle terminals for seniors on the list of travel expense discounts. “Passenger terminal fees, however, are not included. Most, if not all, domestic airports do not give a 20 percent discount on terminal fees for the elderly,” he said. He noted that the inclusion of this discount on the list will benefit both the senior citizens and local tourism industry Like and/or Share This Article: m.kickerdaily/dswd-seeks-p4-8b-budget-to-fund-allowances-to-senior-citizens-in-2015/
Posted on: Mon, 01 Sep 2014 07:23:09 +0000