Bacolod Mayor Greg Gasataya and the Department of Social Services and Development (DSSD) are doing door-to-door distributions of local social pension to ensure that even the bedridden beneficiaries receive their benefits.
The initiative is part of the ongoing social pension payout to 1,510 senior citizens across the city.
One such beneficiary was Pedro Valdez, 74, of Barangay Sum-ag, who was visited by Gasataya Aug. 18. Valdez, who is battling a pulmonary disease, expressed his gratitude for the special attention.
“I’m glad that he personally took time for us, because I can no longer go to the payout center. I’m very thankful for his visit,” Valdez said of Gasataya’s visit.
The mayor and DSSD personnel handed over P1,500, representing Valdez’s pension for January to March.
Earlier, the DSSD also assisted Gregorio Catolico of Barangay 23, who has been fighting laryngeal cancer and renal failure for a decade. His wife, Nancy Catolico, accepted the pension on his behalf, and conveyed her family’s appreciation.
“It was really a big help to us, because if you have a patient, you know how difficult it is,” she said. “I also sought help from Mayor Gasataya and Congressman Albee Benitez, and both have been supportive of us,” she said in a city press release.
Gasataya stressed the importance of the ongoing door-to-door distribution to ensure that all qualified beneficiaries are served.
“For us, this is one way of appreciating their efforts and letting them feel loved. They were the ones who sacrificed for us, so it is only fitting that we put them first,” the mayor said.
The local social pension program is based on City Ordinance 1010, which also provides benefits to persons with disabilities (PWDs).
In addition to pensions, Gasataya mentioned that the city government is accelerating the establishment of a senior citizens center to improve services for the elderly.
City Administrator Atty. Mark Steven Mayo and executive assistant Ayesha Villaflor joined Gasataya in the house-to-house pension distribution. ||
