DSWD: Over 91k waitlisted senior citizens may not receive pension next year due to budget cut

More than 91,000 waitlisted senior citizens may not receive their pension in 2021 amid budget cuts, the Department of Social Welfare and Development said.

According to Raffy Tima’s report on Balitanghali on Monday, DSWD assistant secretary Glenda Relova said they initially requested P24 billion to cover 3.7 million indigent senior citizens for the program, but the Department of Budget and Management cut more than P800 million from the fund.

“Ang apekto po nito, ang hindi pagkakabigay ng budget na ito is mayroon po tayong mga waitlisted na around 91,000 na senior citizens na naghihintay mabigyan po ng grant. Kung hindi po maibibigay sa amin itong P800 million, hindi po namin sila maisasali para po sa 2021,” Relova said.

Bayan Muna Representative Carlos Zarate, meanwhile, urged Congress to look into the situation as he questioned why the elderly have to be waitlisted just to receive their pension.

“Dapat siguro tignang ito maigi ng Kongreso. Bakit kailangan pa magpa-waitlisted ang mga senior citizens natin or elderly people? Alam naman po nating limitado na ‘yong panahon nila dito sa mundo, lalo na ‘yong gma mahihirap tapos naka-waitlisted. Samantala, mayroong maraming pondo diyan na puwedeng ma-reallign para sa kapakinabangan ng ating mga elderly people,” Zarate said.

DSWD spokesperson Irene Dumlao also said they are coordinating with Congress and DBM regarding the matter.

“Ang DSWD naman po, patuloy ang ating ugnayan sa DBM at sa ating Kongreso para nga po matiyak na magkaroon ng pondo at matiyak na magpatuloy ‘yong pag-cover natin ng karagdagang mga individwal na kwalipikado para sa programa,” Dumlao said.

DSWD has a proposed budget of P171.2 billion for next year. —KBK, GMA News