As city to enter MOA with DSWD-7: Seniors to have DSWD pension

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City Council has approved a resolution authorizing Acting Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia to enter into and sign a memorandum of agreement with the Department of Social Welfare and Development for the provision of the monthly pension to qualified indigent senior citizens.

The measure, which was approved during the council’s regular session yesterday, was sponsored by Councilor Pancresio Esparis, chairman of the Social Services.

Esparis’ resolution states that the local government unit must exercise its powers to grant as well as powers necessary, appropriate, or incidental for its “efficient and effective governance” and those which are essential to the promotion of the general welfare.

It further reads that the provision of a monthly pension to qualified indigent senior citizens in the amount of P1,000 as government assistance has been stipulated under Republic Act 9994, otherwise known as "The Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010."

The resolution states that proper implementation shall be from July to December 2024. To formalize this, a MOA must be entered into and between the DSWD-7I and the Cebu City government.

Among the roles of DSWD stipulated in the MOA is to manage and coordinate the regional implementation of the Social Pension Program, designate a Focal Person for the Social Pension Program to provide guidance and technical assistance to the Social Welfare and Development Officers in the implementation of the program.

Meanwhile, the city government is also tasked to distribute stipends to Social Pension Program beneficiaries. —/LPM (FREEMAN)