The impact of the social pension in the life of pensioners and to their families is great and very much appreciated because of the graces that are given to them. They feel secure because they have something to rely on financially to augment for their daily needs. Some have said, their lives had improved because they can eat good food such as milk and bread, buy slippers and clothing. Most im portantly for medicines and food supplements to those whose health condition is poor. The relationship to the family became stronger because they are given much attention and being taking care of their needs. They are happy to be one of the beneficiaries. It can be seen in their facial expressions and glow of their eyes. Some are clapping their hands and utter a prayer of thankfulness. They are hoping that this program of the government will eventually a lifetime so that they can enjoy the remaining years of their lives having a pension. Some are crying because of happiness, and look forward to the next distribution. One female senior citizen would like to kiss and hug you because of so much gratitude. Even is asking permission if she could buy a new dress. During the pay out the senior citizens are very excited and early to come in the venue to claim their pension. After they received they would shake hands and said “May God Bless you”, then they will go to the nearest store to buy food. One senior citizen who was not given so much attention by his family but when he started receiving pension everyone in the family wanted to take care of him. Some immediate family of the beneficiaries keeps the ID of a senior citizen so that they will be the one to accompany him during the pay out. You have to wait the beneficiaries during the pay out because some lived in a fur flung areas and the means of transportation is a single motorbike. Due to old age some cannot walk, sleepy, and hearing is impaired. Some could hardly write and very frail so you have to give time for them. One senior citizen who was dying was visited personally in their house to give his pension. Even could hardly breath, he can still utter the word “thank you”. Some are blind but willing to get his pension using his cane because of excitement. They would say that the pension they received is mostly intended for food such as rice and other necessities. Some is use to buy medicine and food supplement. by: F.O VI, DSWD Last Updated (Friday, 28 October 2011 06:10)
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There was a 114 years old woman named Francisca M. Susano from Purok Daisy Brgy. Maunlad, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan. She was born on August 11, 1897. She is one of the Social Pensioners of Palawan. According to her, she considered herself as a very lucky and full of blessing person. First, she reached the age of 114 with a happy family and second is to be eligible for the benefits and privileges provided by the Government to the seniors particularly the Social Pension Program of DSWD. The said program helps her lot to augment her daily needs. She declared that she don’t want to rely to any assistance that her children can provide her since that they are also experiencing difficulty in life and suffering from poverty. She also added that she doesn’t want to add burden to her children. Lola Francisca lives alo ne before. Everything seemed fine until she turned 114 of age. At that point, her daughter took her so that she will be cared as well. Lola Francisca said that “Sa totoo lang sa edad kong ito mas gusto ko pa din ang magisa dahil ayokong maging pabigat pa sa aking mga anak lalo’t alam ko naman na hirap din sila sa buhay. Ngunit pinilit nila akong kunin para ako ay kanilang maalagaan. Kaya sobra akong nagpapasalamat sa tulong at biyaya ng gobyerno sa aming mga matatanda na hirap sa buhay. Ngayon hindi ko na kailangang hingin pa sa aking mga anak ang pambili ng pagkain at gamot ko”. During payout, Lola Francisca goes to take her pension. She because enjoyed and happy to be included in the program. She added that she was extremely grateful to the implementers of the program because it really helps the indigents particularly the elderly who doesn’t have the strength and capability to work for them to survive. Furthermore, most of the Social Pensioners are of age 97 and below. Like Lola Francisca, they are also grateful to be included as Social Pensioners. Some of them declared that they considered themselves as “isang kahig isang tuka” which means that they live from hand to mouth. One of the Social Pensioners said that “Nagagawa ko ng makabili ng masustansiyang pagkain ng hindi na kailangang hingin sa aking anak”. That simple word symbolizes the real help of the program in the life of the pensioner. They strongly believe that Social Pension Program enables them to reduce the extreme poverty they experienced. It changes their way of living. Actually, if they are going to compare their lives today from their past, it is very visible that it works a lot for making differences and improvements in their lives. They can now purchase nutritious foods and buy medicine when sick that will help them lengthen their life. They also added that through the program they will not be able to add burden to their children who are also suffering from extreme poverty. Moreover, they said that “Noon, kapag ako ay nagkakasakit ay talagang tinitiis ko na huwag magpagamot, hindi dahil sa ayaw ko kundi dahil sa wala akong pera na pambili ng gamot. Ayokong maging pabigat sa mga anak ko dahil alam ko naman na hikahos din sila sa kanilang buhay. Subalit ngayon, nagkaroon ng pagkakataon na ako ay makapagpagamot dahil sa programa ng gobyerno”. Lastly, Social Pensioners are hoping for the continuation of implementation of the program. They wish for its success. They are all thankful for the privileges and benefits that they continuously received because they feel their importance in the society.### by: FO IV-B Last Updated (Friday, 28 October 2011 03:52)
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The approved  R.A. 9994, also known as the “Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010” granted additional benefits and privileges of senior citizens. This act provides a monthly stipend of five hundred pesos (Php 500.00), to indigent Senior Citizens, given in a quarterly basis to augment the daily subsistence and other medical needs of senior citizens. On May 4, 2011, the social Pension program was launched in Region XII at Maasim, Sarangani Province. After which 44 municipalities and 5 cities followed. This was the first time that the senior citizens, thin and frail, hungry and tired received their pension of one thousand five hundred pesos (Php 1,500.00) each for the first quarter from January- March 2011. At this juncture, pensioners were all in big smiles, exceedingly happy, manifesting immeasurable joy, never expected that such a very sensational and memorable event would ever happen in their life. According to Mr. & Mrs. Teodorico Siloterio (88 & 80 yrs. Old) both pensioner of Tampakan, South Cotabato “ Sa amin, napakalaking tulong talaga itong Social Pension lalo na sa aming dalawa. Kami nalang ang namumuhay. Malayo ang aming mga anak at wala na kaming komunikasyon. Naglalako na lamang ako ng kakanin para makabili ng gamot para sa aking asawa at may pambili ng aming pagkain. Ngayong may pension na kami, makabili na kami ng gatas , bitamina, lalong lalo na ang gamot sa rheuma ng aking asawa.  Makapagpahinga narin ako sa paglalako ng mga kakanin. Pensioners were very eager to share their feelings upon receiving the pension. Bauso, Carmen a blind pensioner cried and said for the first time in her life she received a big amount. She never holds an amount as big as this. She added “ kahit papano hindi ako mahiya sa aking anak sapagkat siya lamang ang nagtiyagang mag alaga sa akin sa kabila ng aking kapansanan at sa dami ng kanilang mga anak. Hindi na ako palaging nakaasa nalamang sa kanila dahil may pension na ako. She thanked God for the blessing, especially to the Philippine government for giving such privilege and attention. Pensioners have their different stories; other said that they traveled more than 20 kilometers of bumpy and slippery road just to get their pension. Some experiences floods and landslide, other doesn’t have money for their fare, but despite of that they were very eager to come to personally get their pension. Some senior citizens who are bed ridden were being visited by the RSPU staff to hand their pension. Esmael Usman of Palimbang, Sultan Kudarat shared his salute to the national government for giving support especially in time of their crisis; he said that he can now eat 3 times a day instead of once a day. Adela Ados of Cotabato City added that she was able t o buy his vitamin, medicine for asthma and arthritis which helps her to walk. Again, on June 2011, the lucky pensioners received their second quarter pension. We noticed that our once frail and haggard pensioners have now improved in their physical structure, appearance, and in their social approach in life. When they were asked to share the utilization of their pension, the previous shy pensioner turned to be happy and confident in their interaction. They showed improvement in their way of dressing. They were admired by people for being pensioners, thus uplifting their social status in life. All Social pensioners have one common yell, to remain pensioners the rest of their life. They are forever thankful and grateful to President Benigno C. Aquino III through DSWD Secretary Corazon J. Soliman for implementing R.A. 9994. Mabuhay ang Pilipinas.### by:F.O XII, DSWD Last Updated (Friday, 28 October 2011 04:53)
Social Pension Program in Caraga is now in its full blown of implementation. It is now in it’s the 3rd quarter of implementation. For a couple of months, the implementation of the program has greatly affected the lives not just of the social pensioners, but also their family members, the president of the barangay federation, and the implementers of social services program for senior citizens in the local government units. There were several stories shared to us by the social pensioners in the different parts of the region. These stories were shared during the conduct of spot check and home visit conducted by the staff of the field office. The following are some of the many stories shared by the pensioners. A. Agusan del Sur Municipality of Veruela 1. Benedicto Asis- the pe nsioner is 81 years old already presently residing at Poblacion, Veruela, Agusan del Sur. She is living together with his wife who is also a social pensioner, and one daughter. He is suffering from rheumatism and does not respond to the questions asked for he could not hear anymore brought about by being old. In the interview, his grandson disclosed that his grandfather is already bed ridden for almost a year now. The daily consumption depends through the irregular support of his daughter working as domestic helper and the income out of selling poultry chicken. According to Albert (grandson), he was very thankful that his grandparents were included in the list of qualified social pensioners. He narrated to us the experience during the first release. He was the one who assisted his grandfather to claim the pension in the venue. He disclosed that the money received by his grandfather on the first releases was immediately used to purchase milk, medicines and for him, to be able to buy these goods can contribute to gradual recovery of his grandfather’s health, and although the elderly could not express his feelings, he is convicted that his grandfather was very happy for it. 2. Apolinario Plaza- when we arrived at the pensioner’s house, he was wearing a jacket, boots, and a hat. He was busy cultivating a portion of their vacant lot outside his abode. He disclosed that he will be planting some crops and vegetables (kamote, and gabi) because according to him whenever he wants to eat vegetables, he will not spend his money anymore in buying these crops in the market. The pensioner is already 86 years old and suffers from rheumatism and hypertension. He is living together with his wife who was not around during the interview because according to him, she was admitted in Davao Doctors Hospital due to diarrhea. His children are not supporting them already although they already landed a good job but according to him, he will not depend their daily needs on the support coming from their children because they already have their own families that they have to support to. He was thankful that the Lord has sustained him and his wife due to their old age and nobody from his children takes care of them. Also, he was also thankful that the government has done its responsibility to respond to the cries of the elderly. When asked about the law (9994), he was very articulate, and according to him, the basis for implementing this program is the law and the government is obligated to implement such. According to Mr. Plaza, they used the money in buying foods, medicines, and milk. A little portion of the money was also used in paying their “labandera” for they could not wash their own clothes anymore. B. Agusan del Norte Butuan City 1. Cerica Estabis-the pensioner is 91 years old residing at Langihan Road. She is living in a slightly dilapidated house together with her two (2) sons who suffers from stroke, and 2 grandchildren. According to her, despite of the hypertension and arthritis that she is suffering, she always finds time to take care of her two ill children. She used the money that she received in purchasing medicines for arthritis, rice, and milk. Since she is a member of a cooperative, the P500.00 was deposited to her account on the said coop for future use. According to her daughter, she was very thankful that her mother was chosen to be one of the beneficiaries of the program because being one of the children; she could not support anymore the basic needs of her mother because she already has her own family that she has to attend to. The fact also that her two siblings are suffering from stroke. 2. Gloria C. Pulido-she is 79 years old and residing at P-8 Brgy. Limaha, Butuan City. She suffers from “dromophobia”, a fear of crossing and residing along the street. It was in the early month of 2011 that she transfers from barangay Langihan to Limaha living together with one of her daughter. The pensioner suffers from hypertension and arthritis. According to her, she bought 5 poultry chicken for her entrepreneurial activity out of the pension that she received. According to her she will invest her money for future use. A portion of the money was also purchased with 5 kls. rice. In the course of the interview, the pensioner cried because according to her, she did not expect that she will be chosen as one of the beneficiary because during the implementation of the “Katas ng Vat”, she was not included in the list. She is very thankful because according to her, the government was used as the instrument that her prayers be answered. Last Updated (Friday, 28 October 2011 03:51)
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Friday, 28 October 2011 08:18 | 
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