Image: www.dswd.gov.ph
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is set to evaluate the meager P500 social pension given to indigent senior citizens.
During the briefing of the House of Representatives special committee on the North Luzon growth quadrangle, Pangasinan Representative Christopher de Venecia sought updates on the implementation of DSWD’s social pension program.
DSWD assistant bureau director Maricel Deloria said 3.8 million indigent seniors are currently covered by the program which grants a P500 monthly pension.
Asked if the amount is sufficient, Deloria replied: “The current rate of P500 pension for our target beneficiary is not enough to cover the minimum daily requirement of all our target beneficiaries.”
“However, the P500 stipend is intended only to augment. It does not intend to address or provide funds or cover all the minimum requirements of our target beneficiaries,” Deloria said.
Nonetheless, Deloria said DSWD is in the pipeline of designing a comprehensive review of the program.
In August, the House of Representative also approved a measure seeking to increase the social pension of indigent senior citizens to P1,000 per month.