SAN JOSE, Occidental Mindoro (PIA) — Two hundred and thirteen indigent senior citizens here, including 89 new beneficiaries, received their monthly stipends under the 2024 Social Pension for Indigent Senior Citizens (SPISC) Program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), January 14.
Under the SPISC program, beneficiaries should receive ₱1,000 per month as mandated by Republic Act 11916.
According to Christopher Gomez, Senior Citizen Focal Person of the San Jose Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO), these new beneficiaries, who each received a lump sum of ₱12,000 equivalent to a year’s pension for 2024, have replaced the previous program recipients who are no longer eligible.
“Ang mga pinalitan ay maaaring lumipat ng ibang munisipyo, umalis na ng bansa, o kaya naman ay pumanaw na,” he said.
(Those replaced may have moved to another municipality, left the country, or passed away.)
Gomez added that the new beneficiaries were previously on the waitlist and underwent a validation process to meet the DSWD’s assessment criteria.
Meanwhile, senior citizens who missed their pensions in 2024 were also included in the payout.
These individuals, referred to as “no-shows,” could not claim their grants during previous payout cycles for various reasons.
“Ang matatanggap po ng ating ‘no show’ ay nakadepende sa kung ilang quarter ang hindi nila nakuha at ang bawat isang quarter ay katumbas ng P3,000 na pensyon,” Gomez clarified.
(The amount that our no-shows receive depends on how many quarters they missed, with each quarter equivalent to ₱3,000.)
A DSWD Memorandum Circular states that pensions can be distributed monthly, bimonthly, or, in the case of San Jose, quarterly. However, Gomez reminded beneficiaries that missing the collection of their monthly stipend for three consecutive cycles will result in removal from the program.
Teresita Gregorio, a 69-year-old resident of Brgy. Labangan, Poblacion, and one of the beneficiaries expressed her gratitude, saying she had been waiting for this opportunity for a long time.
She plans to use the pension for medicine, vitamins, and other basic needs.
Gomez added that the SPISC program in San Jose currently has 7,349 active beneficiaries, and this number is expected to increase this year. (VND/PIA MIMAROPA – Occidental Mindoro)
