Upon the instruction of Mayor John Dalipe, the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) is currently finalizing the schedules for the payouts of social pension and other financial assistance due the senior citizens in Zamboanga City.

CSWD Officer Ma. Socorro Rojas told the press briefing in City Hall Tuesday morning that scheduled for release is the social pension from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) at P6,000 each to around 25,000 elderly-beneficiaries.

She said the DSWD had already downloaded the total amount of P77-million for social pension, which payout started Tuesday in Barangay Ayala, west of this city.

Also scheduled for payout is the LGU social amelioration program for the senior citizens based on City Budget Ordinance 751, setting aside the amount of P100-million for the city’s approximately 100,000 senior citizens at P1,000 each quarterly.

“Our senior citizens really have a special place in the heart of Mayor Dalipe, thus he wants these financial assistance released to them the soonest time possible,” Rojas said.

The dates and venues of these payouts will be announced as soon as the lists of beneficiaries are finalized.

Under the guidelines, all living senior citizens of Zamboanga City, who are ID holders and bonafide residents of Zamboanga City for at least six months, with or without social pension and other types of remuneration, are entitled to receive the SAP of P1,000 each every quarter.

To ensure proper and smooth payout process, the recipients will receive the financial assistance through direct cash distribution scheme on a quarterly basis to be facilitated by the City Treasurer’s Office.

The release will take effect starting June 2023 and onwards, and the CSWDO will schedule the payout by barangay in coordination with the City Mayor’s Office.-[Vic Larato]