Representative of the Second District of Pangasinan Leopoldo N. Bataoil took time to grace the release of Php 1,500 monthly stipend of indigent senior citizens in Mangatarem and Basista with 125 and 33 recipients, respectively.

In his message, he mentioned how thankful he is with the government particularly with DSWD on its initiative to help the indigent senior citizens. “ The Social Pension Program” may not yet be perfect but the will to serve the people is there already,” he said.

In his text message to DSWD Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman, Congressman Bataoil commended the “very efficient DSWD staff.”

On exclusion problems, where there are senior citizens observed as poor but not included in the program, he advised that workers form the Local Government Units should continue to coordinate with DSWD to update records/information on the listing of social pensioners.

The program has a grievance machinery which caters to the excluded indigent senior citizens, who could apply using the Social Pension Program Application Form.

Bataoil said, this Program is the realization of the tedious budget hearing in Congress where the budget of DSWD is strongly defended by Secretary Soliman.

At present, there are already 2, 290 indigent senior citizens who received monthly stipend in Region 01. The release of the said stipend is still on-going. (by: Iryn Q. de los Reyes, Information Officer II)