Senior citizens in Biñan City, Laguna were treated to an early Christmas by the city government, as they received their annual pensions in a two-day payout event last December 21 and 22.
Mayor Arman Dimaguila and Vice Mayor Gel Alonte personally supervised the payout activities for some 18,666 senior citizens in the city.
Every senior citizen received a total of P3,000, covering the period July to December 2024, under the city's Local Senior Citizen Pension Program.
In a media interview, Dimaguila disclosed that the city government has allotted over P120 million per year to fund the local pension program, which was enacted by a local ordinance in 2021.
This program was enacted by Vice Mayor Gel Alonte, in his capacity as Sangguniang Panglungsod presiding officer, at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, as a supplement to the national pension program for indigent senior citizens.
“This is something that other LGUs can’t do; not everyone is able to provide a local social pension. For us, senior citizens, as well as PWDs and solo parents are special,” Dimaguila said.
The city mayor also stressed the city government’s efficient fiscal responsibility in allocating more funds for the most vital services of the city such as the education and health system.
“If we distribute this in one week [Pamaskong Bayong], it will be consumed immediately, so I think the dole-out program needs to be balanced with other programs. This distribution is for senior citizens, this is a form of recognition for them,” Dimaguila added.
(Report and photo by Catherine Go/With additional report from the Philippine Information Agency)
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