The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) plans to digitize the release of senior citizens’ pensions through cash cards.
During the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas on June 11, Regional Director Leonardo Reynoso of DSWD Mimaropa said the department is now in talks with the Land Bank of the Philippines to shift the mode of disbursement from manual to cash cards.
He added that a monthly release will be possible if beneficiaries of the Social Pension for Indigent Senior Citizens have cash cards.
DSWD now releases the monthly pension amounting to ₱1,000 per beneficiary every semester, but starting in July, it will be issued every quarter.
“Ang hangarin ng ating pamahalaan ay hindi habang panahon ay manual ang pamimigay. Ang gusto talaga natin ay digital payment kaya merong ugnayan ang DSWD with LandBank of the Philippines para at least ay magkaroon ng cash cards ang senior citizens natin,” he said.
Even though the department wants to release the pensions on a monthly basis, Reynoso admitted that it will be challenging for them to visit all the municipalities in the region.
DSWD transfers the funds to the local government unit (LGU) for the latter to facilitate the release of pensions.
If the LGU is not eligible to receive a fund transfer due to unliquidated transactions with DSWD, the department sends personnel to conduct the payout for social pensioners.
Aside from pensions, DSWD also extends centenarian cash gifts to Filipinos who have reached 100 years old.
There are 28 centenarians identified in the Mimaropa region in collaboration with the LGUs.
He said that the department is now starting to identify the possible centenarians for 2025 and 2026.
“Sinusubaybayan na yan ng DSWD para ipaalam sa mga kamag-anak na ito yung mga requirement para kayo ay makatanggap ng ₱100,000,” he said.
Filipino senior citizens ages 80 to 95 will also receive a ₱10,000 cash incentive from the government after the amendment of Republic Act 10868, or the Centenarian Act of 2016, in February 2023. (RG/PIA Mimaropa-Palawan)
