The city government of Vigan is giving social pensions to its indigent senior citizens through its own local funds, separate from the national government’s program.

Ma. Celerina Agcamaran, head of the Office of Senior Citizen Affairs in Vigan City, confirmed this on Friday following the distribution of social pensions to 967 indigent senior citizens at the Collado Hotel in Barangay Pantay Fatima.

“We just had the city-funded payout for our indigent senior citizens. This is based on an approved ordinance in response to so many demands from our senior citizens in need of social pension,” she said in an interview.

Eligible beneficiaries received PHP2,000 each, covering the first and second quarters of the year. An additional PHP3,000 for each beneficiary will be released in December, bringing the total annual assistance to PHP5,000.

“Thank you for this program of the city government. It is a big help for my daily sustenance,” said Elisa Rochina, a beneficiary from Barangay Cabaroan Laud.

The grant is guided by City Ordinance No. 15, series of 2025, authored by former Sangguniang Panlalawigan member and now Vice Mayor Glendale Benzon. It aims to provide temporary financial assistance to indigent senior citizens still awaiting inclusion in the national government’s social pension program.

The City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) said this assistance is separate and distinct from the social pension being implemented by the national government through the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

“Senior citizens who are already receiving benefits from the National Social Pension Program are no longer covered under the city-funded grant, ensuring that the local assistance reaches those who have not yet received support from the national government,” the CSWDO said in a statement.

Aside from senior citizens, indigent persons with disabilities also receive social pensions from the city government. (PNA)