A total of 55 senior citizens in Mangaldan, Pangasinan were removed from the list of social pension beneficiaries after a government review found they were not qualified under national guidelines.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) conducted a cleansing process and discovered that most of the 55 individuals were already receiving SSS pensions, while others had children with stable jobs.
Under DSWD rules, only indigent senior citizens, those with no other pension and whose children have no means of support, are eligible for the government pension.
Local officials said the removal followed proper procedure.
Ruben Reside, head of the Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) in Mangaldan, said they followed the directive from the national office.
“There is an official communication sa DSWD Central Office, they are disqualified, ibinigay namin ang mga letter sa mga president at sila na ang nagbigay sa mga tinanggal sa listahan,” Reside said.
Some senior citizens supported the decision, saying the pension should go to those who truly need it.
Crispin Petilla, a 77-year-old resident of Barangay Nibaliw, said the step was necessary.
“Nipeg labat ya naikál ira, kumon sara’y singa sikami ya anngapon talaga so anapan so naidan,” she said.
According to DSWD guidelines, the social pension is intended for:
- Indigent senior citizens who are ill or have a disability
- Those without a permanent source of income or financial support from relatives
- Those not receiving any pension from SSS, GSIS, or other institutions
The Mangaldan OSCA said the cleansing ensures that limited government funds go to qualified seniors who rely on the pension for daily needs.
