CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga – The provincial government through the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office announced new benefits awarded to elderly Kapampangans as stipulated in the Senior Citizens’ Code at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center last Monday.
Board Member Rosve Henson, vice chair for the Committee on Social Services, disclosed the provincial government’s new cash incentive given to centenarians – elderlies aged 100 years and above – worth P100,000 per recipient.
It was learned, the Capitol has already awarded 37 cash incentives worth P3,700,000 for the first quarter of this year alone.
The Capitol will also grant financial assistance worth one thousand pesos to bedridden elderlies, with proper certification from their respective municipal health officers, Henson added.
The elderlies were also assured that all of their concerns will now be promptly addressed by the newly formed Senior Citizens Council working under the PSWDO.
Said programs are all made possible by the passing of Ordinance 647 in 2014 under the leadership of Vice Governor Dennis Pineda, also known as the Enactment of the Senior Citizens’ Code of the Province of Pampanga.
PSWDO Chief Elizabeth Baybayan, reminded the elderlies of the regular benefits enjoyed by all senior citizens such as 20% discount on numerous services particularly, public transportation, hospitalization and medicines, even on restaurants, hotels and other recreational services.
Elizabeth Capuli and other representatives from the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) were also present to discuss Republic Act 10645 or the the Mandatory PhilHealth Coverage of Senior Citizens.
Under this law, all senior citizens that are not listed as non-paying member or pensioner, NHTS-PR, Listahan, point-of-care, or sponsored membership are automatically qualified as regular members.
Currently, PhilHealth members can avail coverage for about 4,600 cases with corresponding case rates.
The attendees were pleased with the developments unveiled at the event and pledged to disseminate such to their respective members.
The Provincial Senior Citizens’ Summit, attended by some 400 elderly representatives, is the first convention of senior citizen representatives since the enactment of the Senior Citizens’ Code last year. The event aims to apprise the leaders of the new privileges intended for them and their members.
