An additional 2,800 qualified senior citizens in highly-urbanized Bacolod City are expected to receive social pension from the local government unit this year after the approval of additional funds.

Data on Monday, February 10, showed there are 8,333 senior citizens who benefited from the cash assistance since the ordinance granting the pension was approved in the last quarter of 2022.

In an interview, Councilor Celia Flor, chairperson of the City Council committee on senior citizens and veteran affairs, said an additional P15 million was added to the previous year’s P50-million budget upon the request of Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez.

“This year, it’s now P65 million. We can add at least 2,800 beneficiaries. From 8,333, it will become around 11,000 beneficiaries,” she said.

Through the city’s Department of Social Services and Development, each beneficiary receives a social pension of P6,000 a year or P500 monthly.

Flor said that after the payout for last year’s social pension is completed, she will meet with the officials of concerned city departments to discuss the number of beneficiaries that will be added to each of the city’s 61 barangays.

The local official said she will also request for a supplemental budget of about P5 million to further increase the number of beneficiaries.

Previously, Flor said the city government prioritizes those aged 70 years and above for social pension.

“With the additional funds, those who are in their 60s may now be included in the list,” she said.

Qualified senior citizens include those who do not receive any form of contributory pension, as well as individuals receiving not more than P5,000 monthly pension from the Government Service Insurance System, Philippine Veterans Affairs Office and Social Security System. (PNA)