A resolution which urges the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) to update its Local Social Pension (LSP) list for senior citizens and to consider the possibility of increasing their P250 monthly pension was filed Tuesday at the Palawan Provincial Board (PB).
Board member Leoncio Ola, author of the proposed measure, said the P250 being received by the elderly is no longer enough due to the effect of indirect taxes imposed on different commodities.
Ola said even the 20 percent discount for senior citizens is no longer applicable today to support their daily needs.
“We are giving P250 a month, and although senior citizens are entitled to a 20 percent discount, they’re no longer enough these days,” he said.
Ola said the list of beneficiaries should already be updated since there are more seniors now who are already qualified for the social pension.
He said senior citizens who are already receiving pensions from the Social Security System (SSS) and the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) should not be included in the list of the PSWDO.
Ola explained if the list has already been updated, there is a possibility for the P250 monthly pension to increase.
He said it is also against the law that SSS and GSIS pensioners should receive the monthly pension from the provincial government.
“We want to reduce the number of beneficiaries of the local social pension by being strict kasi ang alam ko 60 or 70 to 80 years old ay puwede ka na ma-enroll sa national to receive P500 ata. Pero dito may iba pa rin nakakalusot at nakakatanggap,” Ola added.
In addition, board member Roseller Pineda said the financial assistance for the seniors is also being used by the whole family.
He also said it is actually one of the poverty indicators in the province.
“Kung makikita ninyo particularly sa Taytay at ibang munisipyo ay sobra ang eagerness ng mga matatanda natin kapag hindi timely nakukuha ang cash assistance. Sabi ko nga ito ay isang indicator na ang pension ng mga seniors ay hindi lang ginagamit ng beneficiary kundi ng buong pamilya,” Pineda said.
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