Daba probes social pension fund

IN aid of legislation, the City Council committee on social services chaired by Councilor Reuben R. Daba on Friday discussed the alleged unliquidated balance of the City Social Welfare and Development (CSWD) for the social pension fund of indigent senior citizens as reported by Councilor Nadya Emano-Elipe.

During the meeting, CSWD representative Jong Pamisa informed the committee that last year the CSWD released social pension to 1,813 beneficiaries based on the DSWD’s administrative order.

Under DSWD guidelines, those who are 80 years old and above are given first priority, 77 years old and above as second priority and 60 years old and up as third priority.

He said 3,011 beneficiaries received social pension in the first quarter of this year. There are 404 senior citizens’ whose social pensions have yet to be released, he cited.

“Katong mga nalista last 2016 naa gihapon ilang name sa first quarter sa 2017, wala nakaclaim kay nipahulay na, ang uban gitransfer sa uban lugar,” Pamisa explained.

“Out of the P9.1 million allotted by the DSWD, P153,000 was returned to the DSWD since other beneficiaries could not be located,” he added.

According to the CSWD, P3.9 million was released in the first quarter and P3.7 million in the second quarter.

“ Only P1.3 million money-on-hand and funds are intact in the finance department, which has yet to be liquidated since it was just learned that other senior citizens died while others are yet to be located,” Pamisa clarified.

He said the remaining amount will be released on October 21 together with the third and fourth quarter pensions.

CAUSE OF DELAY

Pamisa explained that Mayor Oscar Moreno advised the CSWD to release the social pension to households of the beneficiaries. He said this is because the mayor is concerned about the situation of senior citizens who will receive the amount.

“Nag letter na daun ang DSWD kay nalangan na ang liquidation … unsa man amo e-liquidate nga daghan man barangay? But by 3rd quarter balik na pud sa clustering,” Pamisa said.

For her part, Rosanna Akut of the DSWD-10 lauded the efforts of the CSWD in the release of the monthly stipend of senior citizens. However, she said there was a delay, which affects the required timeline of the program for the elderly.

According to Akut, as stipulated in the MOA, upon download of funds and 50 days after payout, the liquidation report should be submitted.

MANPOWER

In response to the query of Councilor Daba on the manpower needs of the CSWD, Pamisa said there are only four employees assigned for the processing of senior citizen’s social pension.

“Mao sad gyud na among gipaningkamotan nga madugangan mi, at least 16 ka tao among e-hire,” he said.

Councilor Daba assured that the request of CSWD for manpower will be addressed. (JBD)