ILOILO – The provincial government through its Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) headed by Sarah M. Barayuga is encouraging families of bedridden persons in the province to avail themselves of the P1,500 to P2,000 quarterly financial assistance.
Ann Rapunzel “Rara” Ganzon, Development Management Officer 2 and spokesperson of the PSWDO, said Provincial Ordinance Number 2021-255 (“An ordinance granting financial assistance to totally bedridden person in the Province of Iloilo and providing funds thereof”) authored by Vice Gov. Christine Garin, has already taken effect.
She said they have already started accommodating beneficiaries for the cash aid last month at their office located in the second floor of the Iloilo provincial capitol.
“Kon kamo may kapamilya or himata nga bedridden nga solo-sobra na one year magpabalo kamo sa inyo Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office kay ang provincial government may ara nga bulig sa ila,” Ganzon said in an interview with Panay News.
Ganzon said a beneficiary can avail himself P1,500 to P2,000 cash aid, depending on the assessment of the PSWDO of his or her medical needs.
Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. has allotted a P20 million for the said ordinance, which prioritizes giving of financial assistance to indigent families.
The provincial government may also consider granting cash aid to bedridden persons whose families have the capabilities to support their needs, depending on the assessment of the PSWDO.
The PSWDO added that the cash aid is only limited to two bedridden persons per family.
In case a bedridden person is hospitalized, a family can choose either a P2,000 financial assistance or medical assistance worth P3,000 to P5,000.
Meanwhile, based on the provincial ordinance, a beneficiary must meet the following conditions:
* totally bedridden for at least one year as certified by a government doctor;
* a member of the Iloilo Provincial Federation of Persons with Disability (PWD) and with a valid PWD ID card;
* a resident of the province of Iloilo for at least six consecutive months as certified by the punong barangay with the issuance of a certificate of residency; and
* belongs to an indigent family as certified by the Social Welfare and Development Office of the concerned local government unit.
The following are the initial requirements to secure financial assistance:
* medical certificate from a government doctor attesting among others that the beneficiary is a totally bedridden person;
* Certification of Indigency and case study report from the Social Welfare and Development Office of the concerned local government unit (LGU);
* Certificate of Residency from the punong barangay stating that the totally bedridden person has been a resident of the barangay for at least six consecutive months;
* certification from the barangay health worker stating that the bedridden person is physically present in their barangay and undergoes usual health monitoring; and
* photocopy of valid ID of the totally bedridden person and claimants of financial assistance.
Claimant should be a family member of the totally bedridden person within the fourth degree of consanguinity or affinity as certified by the punong barangay. If not, there must be an authorization letter from the totally bedridden person stating that he/she is authorizing the claimant to process the financial assistance./PN
