BACOLOD City – Twelve thousand senior citizens in this city were assured they would receive their social pension by January 2023 if the proposed ordinance establishing a social pension fund for qualified senior citizens is approved by the Sangguniang Panlungsod on its third and final reading.
When Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez delivered his first 100-day accomplishment report at the Bacolod City Government Center grounds on Oct. 8, such a matter was included.
“May good news man ko para sa senior citizens, kay ara na sa second reading ang proposed ordinance ni Councilor Celia Flor. Kon mapasa na ini, starting January 2023, we will be giving social pension to 12,000 Bacolodnon senior citizens for the first time,” he said.
Based on the proposed ordinance, those eligible are indigent senior citizens who do not receive any form of contributory pension, as well as individuals receiving not more than P5,000 monthly from a contributory pension and the social pension program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
Others who are eligible are those who have no permanent source of income, compensation, or financial assistance from relatives to support their basic needs and who have been registered voters and residents of Bacolod City for at least a year.
In an earlier statement by Flor, she said the proposed ordinance needs P100 million for implementation, as they are also determining how much social pension will be given to the senior citizens.
She added that there is an ongoing validation and updating of the senior citizens’ database to determine their actual number in this city and to check how many are qualified to receive the social pension./PN
