LAOAG CITY—Members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (Provincial Board) of Ilocos Norte on December 3 approved an ordinance granting burial and medical assistance to qualified senior citizens of the province.
Sponsored by Senior Board Member Matthew Joseph Manotoc, Draft Ordinance 2018-10-063 aims to assist less- fortunate senior citizens who struggle with the financial burdens of medical and funeral expenses.
For 2018, Manotoc said an initial budget of P1.6 million has already been approved for the support program for senior citizens.
“A qualified beneficiary is entitled to a minimum of P5,000 in the event of death and P3,000 for medical expenses,” he said.
A senior citizen aged 60 and above may qualify for the program provided they are a bona fide resident of Ilocos Norte who is non-pensioner, no permanent income and has no financial assistance from relatives to support their basic needs.
The Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO), tasked to implement the program said qualified claimants or their kin may just submit the death certificate, certificate of indigency issued by the barangay chairman and a social case study report for burial assistance claims.
For medical assistance, a medical certificate, doctor’s prescription, certificate of indigency and a social case study report need to be submitted to the PSWDO.
Meanwhile, a budget of P4 million was also allocated as provincial counterpart for centenarians in the province.