TACLOBAN CITY- The regional office of the Department of Social Welfare and Development has urged local government units (LGUs) in the region which have not liquidated their social pension grants to indigent senior citizens to settle their cash advances for the pension program to have a continuous assistance for the beneficiaries.
DSWD-8 Director Restituto Macuto in an interview said that as one of its major programs and services of the DSWD, his office is currently evaluating the implementation of the Social Pension Program and at the same time urging the LGUs as implementing partners to fast track their liquidation process.
Macuto said that as much as possible his office is looking forward that no single LGU will be left behind in implementing the social pension grants to indigent senior citizens in the region.
“We are requesting earnestly for the other LGUs that are not updated with their releases to be more proactive in complying with the documentary requirements. The amount given to beneficiaries is just so small but for them, especially those older people who are less fortunate that even their own family members cannot afford to support them, is something very valuable for them,” Macuto said.
Macuto said that in 2015, there were only three municipalities in Eastern Samar, two in Southern Leyte and one in Northern Samar which have not yet made their liquidation.
The DSWD director added that for the current year, out of 143 LGUs across the region, 108 LGUs that have not yet accomplished and submitted their liquidation reports.
He added that his office has extended coordination to these LGUs so that the cash grants will be downloaded to them as soon as possible.
For this year, Eastern Visayas received an allocation of P527 million for the social pension program intended to benefit 87,920 senior citizens who are to avail P500 monthly pension.
(RESTITUTO A. CAYUBIT)
