The Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte (PGIN), through the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO), granted initial social pensions to Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in the province on July 21.
Social pension is a program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development that gives monthly allowance to qualified Filipinos aged 60 years and above to cater to their basic needs such as food, shelter, clothing, and medicine.
Through the initiative of Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Marcos Manotoc, PSWDO was able to secure and allocate funds to include Ilokano PWDs in the beneficiaries of social pension.
Gov. Marcos Manotoc assured continuous support to PWDs in the province, saying:
“Maghahanda na po kami [for] next year na taasan [ang assistance] and rest assured na magdadagdag pa tayo ng tulong and makipagcoordinate po kami sa ating [mga] munisipiyo at barangay para talagang comprehensive ang suporta sa ating [mga] PWD. Anytime pwede po kayo magrequest ng augmentation. Nandito po ako at ang Provincial Government na handang tumulong. Kailangan kasama po kayo sa sinasabi po natin na inclusive progress, development, and governance.”
Ms. Carolyn Domingo, PSWDO Disability Affairs Officer, highlighted that “Ilocos Norte is very fortunate because it is one of the few provinces in the country to implement a social pension program for PWDs.”
Meanwhile, Ms. Teresita Agustin, President of Ilocos Norte Provincial Federation of PWDs, expressed her gratitude to Gov. Marcos Manotoc, saying:
“We are very grateful to the Governor for giving us [PWDs] the opportunity to receive [cash] incentives for our basic needs. Para po sa mga kasama ko na nandito, napakahalaga po ang bawat salapi na tinatanggap namin.”
In its inaugural distribution, the Provincial Government granted Php 3,000.00 each to 200 indigent Ilokano PWD beneficiaries and Php 500.00 monthly allowance for the succeeding months.
Along with the social pension, the Provincial Government will also implement employment and business programs and financial literacy training for PWDs in the province to sustain their livelihoods. – Kenneth Dhovan Natividad, PGIN-CMO
