By Joel P. Mapiles / Correspondent
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO—At least 43 “senior seniors” citizens aged 95 and above were given P100,000 each by the provincial government, headed by Gov. Lilia G. Pineda, in a short program on Monday.
Pineda said she wants the elderly beneficiaries to “feel, experience and share the love, care and assistance” of the provincial government through the provision of the total amount of P4.3 million.
“For me, it is a big thing that our senior citizens, particularly those 95 and above, are being given due care and attention by the provincial government,” she said.
Pineda said she knew full well that these senior citizens are in need of food, medicines and even pampers for their daily consumption.
“It’s a payback time for the provincial government because these beneficiaries had given their time and share for the human development of this province,’’ she said.
The beneficiaries expressed gratitude to Pineda, who not only proposed the grant of P100,000 to the “senior senior” citizens.
The distribution of the cash grant was based on the ordinance that previously covered only those who reach 100, which was amended by the Provincial Board to 95.
Only natural-born Capampangans are eligible for the grant.
Elizabeth Baybayin, head of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO), said the cash incentive is a huge help knowing that most senior citizens are poor.
The PSWDO said this program of the governor for the elderly can help bedridden, indigent and sick senior citizens.
She said another incentive that could be availed of by the elderly is the P1,000 monthly cash assistance which is part of the pension program of the Provincial government.
Image credits: Jun Jaso