ILOILO CITY -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD-6) has started the profiling of senior citizens aged 80, 85, 90, and 95 years old as part of the agency’s preparations for the expanded Centenarians Law or Republic Act 11982.

According to DSWD regional social pension section Head Marien Grace Tamonan, the agency has coordinated with the local government units for the profiling of beneficiaries.

Based on the report of DSWD-6, each of them got P6,000 totaling P455,466,000.

The SPISC started in 2011 through Republic Act 9994, also known as the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010.

Republic Act 11916, on the other hand, provides for additional government assistance of P1,000 to augment the daily expenses and other medical needs of indigent senior citizens who are feeble, sickly, or with a disability, with no regular income or support from family and relatives, and without pension from private or government institutions.

Further, the SPISC program fulfills the obligation of the government to protect the most vulnerable sector through social protection. (AAL/LMLE/PIA Iloilo)