The city government here announced on Thursday the grant of social pension to qualified senior citizens starting this month as provided in the ordinance approved in October last year.

Those qualified will receive financial assistance of PHP500 a month or a total of PHP6,000 a year, the statement said.

To avail of the benefit, the senior citizen must present proof of identity or residence, status and indigency.

Councilor Celia Flor, chair of the committee on senior citizens and veterans affairs, said the city’s database on senior citizens is being updated to determine the actual number of recipients.

In his first 100 days report last October, Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said this will be the first time the city government is providing social pensions to an estimated 12,000 elderly.

Those who can avail of the social pension are senior citizens who do not receive any form of contributory pension, as well as individuals receiving not more than PHP5,000 monthly from a contributory pension such as Government Service Insurance System, Philippine Veterans Affairs Office and Social Security System and the social pension program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

Considered indigent are senior citizens with no permanent source of income, compensation, or financial assistance from relatives to support his/her basic needs; and must be a registered voter and a resident of the city for at least a year. (PNA)