Sampaloc town in Quezon was named the model local government unit (LGU) for 2022 for the diligent implementation of the social pension fund for senior citizens in Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) or Region 4A.

Of the town’s 1,800 registered senior citizens, 1,632 receive a monthly pension of PHP500.

Those who receive other social pensions, like from the Social Security System, are no longer qualified for the LGU benefit.

An additional PHP200 is given during the birthday month of the senior citizen.

Mayor Angelo Devanadera, accompanied by Municipal Social Welfare and Development officer Mylene Gariguez, received the award handed out by the Department of Social Welfare and Development in Tagaytay City on Wednesday.

In a phone interview on Sunday, Gariguez said the town was recognized as it achieved a 100-percent implementation of the social pension fund program in all four quarters last year.

“We promptly downloaded the fund from the national office allocated for the social pension of our senior citizens and immediately disbursed them, according to the schedule given to us,” said Gariguez.

Gariguez attributed the recognition to the cooperation displayed by all beneficiaries as they completed their requirements.

She also clarified that a senior citizen who wants to receive the grant need not be a registered voter of the town to be included in the program.

An identification card from the village or the Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs is enough, she added. (PNA)