The Department of Social Welfare and Development
an agency of the Government responsible for the
protection of the social welfare of rights and the
promotion social development.
MISSION
To lead in the formulation, implementation, and coordination of
social welfare and development policies and programs for and
with the poor, vulnerable, and disadvantaged.
Social development is about improving the well-being of
every individual in society so they can reach their full
potential. The success of society is linked to the well-
being of each and every citizen.
Social development means investing in people. It
requires the removal of barriers so that all citizens can
journey toward their dreams with confidence and dignity.
It is about refusing to accept that people who live in
poverty will always be poor. It is about helping people so
they can move forward on their path to self-sufficiency.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development
(DSWD) on Tuesday clarified that not all senior citizens
are qualified to receive the social pension provided under
Republic Act 9994 or the Expanded Senior Citizens
Act of 2010.
The DSWD said the law specifically provides for the
criteria for the Social Pension for Indigent Senior
Citizens (SPISC) program, which provides a monthly
stipend of P500 to beneficiaries.
These include seniors who are frail, sickly or with
disability; without any pension from other government
agencies and without a permanent source of income or
source of financial assistance/compensation to support
their basic needs.
“Inasmuch as DSWD would want to include all senior
citizens, the budget for the SPISC is limited,” the agency
said.
“DSWD assures the public that it is doing its best to
ensure that only the rightful beneficiaries are provided
with government assistance such as social pension,”
Under the guidelines of the program, Barangay Senior
Citizens Associations may recommend or submit a list of
potential beneficiaries to the local governments, which in
turn would consolidate and submit this list to the DSWD
field offices.
The DSWD would then cross-match the consolidated list
with the available data from pension-providing institutions
and insurance companies.
The Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program
The Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or "4Ps" (conditional cash
transfer) is a human development program that invests in the health and
education of poor families, primarily those with children aged 0–18.
Sustainable Livelihood Program
The Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) is a community-based capacity
building effort that seeks to improve the program participants’ socio-
economic status through two tracks: Micro-enterprise Development and
Employment Facilitation.
As defined under Republic Act No. 7432, as amended by RA No. 9257(“Expanded
Senior Citizens Act of 2003”) , and further amended by RA 9994, known as
the “Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010, ” defines senior citizen or elderly as any
resident citizen of the Philippines at least 60 years old.
Senior citizens are entitled to 20% discount and exemption from the value -added tax
(VAT) on certain goods and services for their exclusive use. Among
these are the purchase of medicines and essential medical supplies, accessories and
equipment; professional fees of attending physicians and licensed health workers as
well as on medical and dental services, diagnostic and laboratory fees in private
hospitals, medical facilities, outpatient clinics and home health care services.
They are also entitled to 20% discount on fare for land (jeepneys, buses, taxis, shuttle
services, MRT, LRT, PNR,) sea shipping vessel and domestic transport services. Many
elderly do not know that the 20% discount also applies to taxis.
This also applies to restaurants, hotels and similar lodging establishments, and
recreation centers. Seniors should be reminded though that the discount only applies to
them.
Also subject to the 20% discount are admission fees charged by theaters, cinema
houses and concert halls, circuses, leisure and amusement. In some local government
units like Baguio City, SM Cinema Baguio is offering free movies to senior citizens who
are residents of the city once a day from Monday to Friday.
When they die, there is discount for their funeral and burial services.
The law also provides grant of a minimum of 5% discount on water and electric
bills registered in the name of the senior citizen residing therein, and provided
that the monthly consumption does not exceed 100 kilowatt hours of electricity
and 30 cubic meters of water:
Seniors can also get a 5% discount without VAT exemption on certain on groceries
granted by the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of Agriculture.
For groceries worth up to PHP 1,300 per week, they can enjoy 5% off the retail prices of
at least four kinds of the following basic necessities and prime commodities: Rice,
bread, and corn; Chicken, beef, and pork ;Fresh eggs; Coffee, creamer, and sugar;Fresh
fruits and vegetables;Garlic and onions;cooking oil and salt;Noodles, canned sardines,
and canned tuna;Fresh milk and other dairy products;detergents; Electrical supplies,
light bulbs, and batteries and geriatric diapers.
Senior citizens though cannot avail of this special discount in sari-sari stores,
cooperative stores, and wet markets.
As the government cares for the health of senior citizens, they have mandatory
PhilHealth coverage as stipulated in RA 9994. When they are confined in private
hospitals, they can avail of PhilHealth benefits in addition to the 20% discount and VAT
exemption. In government hospitals, the No Balance Billing Policy applies.
To augment their daily subsistence and other medical needs, the government also
provides monthly social pension amounting to P500 to indigent senior citizens.
Another privilege of senior citizens is the provision of express lanes for them in all
commercial and government establishments.
For the 60 and above citizens to enjoy these benefits and privileges, they must present
their senior citizen ID issued by the Office of the Senior Citizen Affairs (OSCA). They
may present their government-issued ID that shows their age in the absence of senior
citizen ID but not all establishments honor this. That is why it is very
important to apply for their senior citizens ID at the OSCA or the Department of Social
Welfare and Development(DSWD) in their respective city or municipality.
An elderly should get a senior citizen identification card and present it whenever
needed to avail of the benefits and discounts, Amelyn Cabrera of DSWD Cordillera
reiterated.
Weak or bedridden senior citizens can still avail of the discount especially in the
purchase of their medicines and groceries. They only have to make and
sign authorization letter for their duly authorized representatives, who will
present it along with the senior citizens’ ID, OSCA purchase
booklet and their own government –issued ID when paying for the purchases.
Senior citizens discounts are not only for the benefit of the elderly but they also provide
big reprieve for families and breadwinners, Cabrera said.
““It's not really difficult to create a rapport with the poor people, here in our country the poor ones are the kindest, as long as you have
an empathy and care about them they will show the same way to you. Giving a helping hand to those poor people even in a minimal
way is much appreciated by them””