Photo from MSSD
COTABATO CITY—A total of 17,877 indigent senior citizens in Basilan received their Social Pension (SocPen) allowances from the Ministry of Social Services and Development (MSSD) during the special payout held from Jan. 18 to Feb. 3.
The payout was conducted in Lamitan City Gymnasium and Provincial Social Welfare Office (PSWDO) of the said province.
Each of the beneficiaries was given Php6,000.00 equivalent to a 1-year allowance. Of which, 1,292 senior citizens from Hadji Muhammad, 1,299 from Tabuan Lasa, 2,544 from Maluso, 1,154 from Lantawan, 1,850 from Sumisip, 1,559 from Tipo-Tipo, 1,127 from Al-Barka, 1,377 from Unkaya Pukan, 958 from Tuburan, 1,222 from Hadji Muhammad Ajul, 929 from Akbar, and 2,566 from City of Lamitan received their stipends.
MSSD’s Older Persons and Persons with Disability Welfare Program (OPPWDWP) Focal Sandra Macacua said that this is a nationally funded program implemented by the ministry from the 2022 budget.
“MSSD ensures that no senior citizen is left behind. Makakaasa po kayo na ang Bangsamoro Government at ang MSSD ay kabalikat ninyo sa pagtugon sa mga pangangailangan ng bawat senior citizen sa Bangsamoro region,” she said.
Social Pension Program for Indigent Senior Citizens (SPISC) is the additional government assistance amounting to Php500.00, which is a monthly stipend to augment the daily subsistence and other medical needs of indigent senior citizens.
The Ministry is also conducting a similar distribution to other BARMM provinces such as Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi. (Myrna Tepadan/BIO with reports from MSSD)
