The Philippine government recently announced that it will be providing a cash aid of PHP1000 to about 9.3 million households across the country, in an effort to ease the burden of rising prices due to inflation. This will be distributed by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in the coming days once the guidelines are announced.
Department of Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno said the cash aid, which will come from an allocation of PHP26.6 billion, would benefit farmers, fisherfolk, and those in the transport sector. The funds will also be used to provide additional subsidies such as fertilizer discount vouchers, fuel discounts for farmers and fisherfolks, and fuel subsidies to the transport sector affected by higher fuel costs. This is part of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s initiative to provide relief to vulnerable sectors hit hardest by inflation.
PHP 500 for 2 Months (PHP 1K) Inflation Ayuda Assistance to Low-Income Filipinos in the Philippines
Diokno also shared that an inter-agency committee was established with himself and National Economic and Development Authority Secretary Arsenio Balisacan at the helm to oversee market outlooks and create other short-term measures that could help mitigate inflation through addressing supply issues and ensuring more affordable energy sources for Filipinos.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development has emphasized that beneficiaries of this cash aid program include Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) members receiving below minimum wages, senior citizens with limited means of income as well as other low-income families struggling financially due to higher prices in goods triggered by global oil price surge caused by the Russia-Ukraine war.
The government’s aim is for these fiscal measures included in President Marcos’ agenda to help lower goods prices while making sure Filipinos are not left behind while adjusting to economic challenges brought on by current events.
Video: DSWD Prepares for Distribution of PHP 1000 Cash Aid Due to Inflation
Check out this news report by GMA News which features the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s preparation for the distribution of the PHP 1,000 cash aid.
DSWD ASec Romel Lopez explains what this ayuda assistance is about and what are the procedures to claim it. He also explains who will benefit from this cash assistance. Check out the video below:
Summary
So this is the current inflation ayuda assistance for the poorest of poor Filipinos., which is the PHP1,000 (PHP 500 two-months) cash aid from a P26.6 billion allocation for subsidies to vulnerable sectors. The funds will also be used to provide additional subsidies such as fertilizer discount vouchers, fuel discounts for farmers and fisherfolks, and fuel subsidies to the transport sector affected by higher fuel costs.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will be in charge of distributing these benefits to Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) members receiving below minimum wages, senior citizens with limited means of income as well as other low-income families struggling financially. This ayuda assistance aims to help alleviate the burden of high prices due to inflation.
This endeavor is part of the government’s initiative to mitigate inflation and ensure an affordable and reliable energy supply by addressing supply issues in the country. The administration hopes that these measures will help Filipinos adjust to current economic challenges while not leaving anyone behind.
The “Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010,” also known as Republic Act No. 9994, establishes a system of legal protections for the elderly by increasing the amount of government aid available to them through the Social Pension Program for Indigent Senior Citizens (SPISC). The goal of this program is to help supplement the daily sustenance and other medical needs of the recipients by providing an additional Five Hundred Pesos (PhP500.00) stipend to eligible low-income senior adults each month.
Since 2011, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the country’s primary social welfare and development agency, has been implementing the SPISC through its Field Offices (FOs), to provide the stipend to its recipients most efficiently and cost-effectively possible.
With the Social Pension Program for Indigent Senior Citizens (SPISC), low-income retirees can receive a monthly stipend of Five Hundred Pesos (P500.00) to help cover basic living expenses and medical costs.
Republic Act 9994, also known as the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010, established the program in 2011. Those who are elderly, disabled, or otherwise unable to work and who are not receiving a pension from a private company or the government are the program’s intended recipients.
From 2011-2014, only participants aged 77 and over were eligible for the program; in 2015, the minimum age limit was lowered to 65. In 2016, the program is available to low-income seniors aged 60 and up.
If you are a senior citizen and you do not currently receive benefits but you meet the eligibility requirements, you can apply to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) at the OSCA, the City/Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office, or the DSWD Regional Office. The Senior Citizen or his or her representative should provide his or her OSCA ID and birth certificate or other official document proving his or her date of birth. The prospective social pensioner will be evaluated using the above factors.
Benefits
Open to all local seniors who have signed up for it
The pension, which is paid out every six (6) months at a rate of Php 500.00, is intended to supplement the daily sustenance needs of older residents as well as other medical expenses.
Applied on a national scale, with a focus on serving low-income residents.
The City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) or the Office of Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) are the appropriate places to apply (OSCA).
Assist low-income seniors who are at risk of being mistreated or going without necessities.
Reducing the prevalence of senior hunger is a priority.
Qualifications
From 2011-2014, only participants aged 77 and over were eligible for the program; in 2015, the minimum age limit was lowered to 65. In 2016, the program is available to low-income seniors aged 60 and up.
If a senior citizen applies for the Social Pension Program but isn’t on the master list, the SPPMO will forward their information to the appropriate OSCA or DSWD FO for review.
Acceptability Conditions
Older adults aged 60 and up who are
Weakened by illness or infirmity;
There is no public or private pension available;
Having no reliable means of support; and
lacks a consistent social network to provide for his or her needs and wants.
Requirements
If a legal guardian or other authorized person is to collect the stipend, he or she will need to provide the following information:
Completed All Required Authorization and Certification
The Beneficiary’s Photocopied OSCA ID
Valid photo identification of the Claimant
Proof of Existence Certificate
The claimant must provide the following for beneficiaries who have passed away:
Death Certificate (Original or Certified True Copy)
Full Guarantee and Waiver of Liability
A copy of the beneficiary’s OSCA ID
A photocopy of the claimant’s identification
If the beneficiary were to pass away at any time during the semester, his or her designated agent would still be entitled to the full amount of the stipend for the semester.
Procedure
To get cash aid for seniors, please complete the steps outlined below.
Step 1: Seniors can get more information about this program at any of the DSWD Field Offices or City/Municipality Social Welfare Offices (C/MSWDO and Office of the Senior Citizens Affair (OSCA)). Both of these organizations are tasked with ensuring that citizens of their respective jurisdictions have access to social welfare programs.
Step 2: After reviewing the application for the city’s master list of poor old people, the applicant or their authorized representative will be notified.
Step 3: After the documentation is completed, pension recipients will be notified of the distribution date, time, and location. Pensioners or their representatives must display valid identification upon payout.
Video: The Monthly Social Pension For Poor Senior Citizens Is Set At Php 1,000.00
Here’s the video about the program.
According to the video, a monthly social pension rise of PHP 1,500.00 was advocated for and ultimately vetoed by the government a few years ago. A much-needed and positive change is the agreed increase in the monthly social pension from 500 to 1,000 pesos.
However, the gain is lower than many had hoped for. It was decided by the House of Representatives to double the monthly pension from 1,000 to 2,000 pesos. Given that these are the poorest people in our society. They will not be compensated more than this amount.
However, many of them must also earn a living and pay for their kids’ education. Therefore, the government needs to provide aid in the form of grants and scholarships for higher education.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is Social Pension?
Social Pension is a government assistance program that gives senior adults a monthly cash stipend of P500 to help them get by. The Department of Health and Human Services is in charge of its administration (DSWD).
2. What Are The Qualifications For A Senior Citizen?
Older adults aged 60 and up who are:
The elderly, the sick, and the disabled:
There is no public or private pension available;
The lack of a reliable income: and
lacks a consistent social network to provide for his or her needs and wants.
3. Who Notifies The Municipality Of The Payout?
The distribution schedule will be determined through collaboration between the DSWD Field Office and the local government’s social welfare and development department.
4. What Happens To The Beneficiary’s Payments In The Event Of His Death?
The beneficiary will get the full amount of the semester’s stipend even if he or she passes away at any time throughout the semester.
5. Can Retirees Qualify For A Social Pension?
According to the DSWD, the 2010 Republic Act on Social Pension is only applicable to the “poorest of the poor” or impoverished older citizens.
6. What Factors Establish A Person’s, Financial Standing?
Social welfare and development departments within municipal or city halls that administer the social pension scheme are crucial to a community’s economic position.
7. Is There A Database Of Older Citizens That LGUs Keep?
To better serve its senior citizens, LGUs must keep track of all of them in a central database. In addition, they should work together with long-term care facilities to ensure the database is always current.
Summary
One of the most underserved demographics, the elderly, requires unique consideration and care. Most of the time, they are abandoned by their relatives and forced to fend for themselves.
The Department of Social and Welfare Services (DSWD) runs a specific initiative to help them out. They receive monetary aid from the government, which they can use to provide for their families. If we take good care of our elderly population, they will be able to live healthy and useful lives well into their dotage. Also, this will make sure they can keep making positive contributions to the world at large and the economy.
By reading this, we hope you’ll have a better understanding of the government’s programs for the elderly. To find out more about DSWD’s program, check out their website.
DSWD International Social Welfare Services for Filipino Nationals (ISWSFN) is a program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) that provides social welfare and development services to Filipino nationals residing or working abroad. The program aims to promote the welfare and well-being of Filipino nationals and their families and to protect them from abuse, neglect, and exploitation. The program also aims to promote their access to quality social services and assistance.
ISWSFN provides a wide range of services including, but not limited to: repatriation and reintegration assistance; medical and psychosocial support; relief assistance; legal aid; financial grants for educational and other projects; job placement services; monitoring of illegal recruiters or employers who exploit OFWs (Overseas Filipino Workers); information dissemination on overseas employment opportunities; as well as psychosocial interventions.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is the government agency responsible for social welfare and development in the Philippines. It is responsible for providing services to poor Filipinos, such as food, education, housing, health care, and disaster relief. DSWD also provides international social welfare services to Filipino migrants and their families living abroad. These services include family reunification, assistance during repatriation, provision of emergency relief, and counseling and referral services.
What is the Purpose of International Social Welfare Services for Filipino Nationals (ISWSFN)?
It was with this goal in mind that the Philippine government’s Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) created the International Social Welfare Services for Filipino(ISWSFN) program to standardize the delivery of social services to Filipinos living abroad.
There are four models for sending social workers abroad:
sending social workers overseas to assist with the DOLE’s Overseas Comprehensive Social Services Package for OFWs in the capacity of Technical and Administrative Assistant to the Labor Attaché (TALABATT);
sending intern social workers to Japan and Hong Kong to get experience with the International Social Service (ISS);
the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) should send a social welfare attaché to Malaysia so that Filipino migrants, especially illegal immigrants and undocumented workers, can receive psychosocial interventions and other welfare assistance.
a social worker as part of Humanitarian Missions; this position was intended to be filled, but no hires were ultimately made.
Benefits From ISWSFN
Migrant workers or any overseas Filipino in Japan, Malaysia, and Middle East countries have access to the following whenever indicated based on the evaluation of the concerned social worker:
The Provision of Counseling Services
are given to people in need to help them handle issues like homesickness and family discord. Also, victims of abuse and maltreatment, especially women and children, should have access to intensive therapeutic counseling when it’s needed and in collaboration with experts.
Psychological Consultation After a Traumatic Event
involves meeting with people one-on-one or in groups to help them cope with the emotional fallout of traumatic experiences.
Help for People Facing Difficult Circumstances
involves giving them a small amount of money or other resources to help them get through a difficult time.
Referral
means making it easier for overseas Filipino workers to get the help they need from other government agencies and non-governmental organizations, either in their host country or back home in the Philippines.
Assisting with Repatriation
“return help” means aid given to overseas Filipinos (OFWs) or other Filipino nationals to ensure their secure return to the Philippines.
Adoption and Foster Care Placement (for ISS Japan only)
foster care, or alternative family care, is the temporary placement of abused, neglected, or abandoned Filipino children with a caring family until they can be reunited with their birth families in the Philippines or adopted.
Qualifications
In sending social workers abroad, DSWD’s primary concern is always the well-being of Filipino migrant workers and other ex-pats living far from home.
If the DSWD decides to send a social worker overseas, they will only be there for up to two years before returning home for an evaluation and a possible extension, depending on budgetary constraints.
Third, the DSWD-Regional Director/Bureau Director may recommend multiple suitable nominees from their region/bureau, but the Selection Committee will only choose one from each bureau/region to ensure continuity in the delivery of social welfare and development services at that level. The Regional Directors and Bureau Directors of DSWD are responsible for making sure that their subordinates can carry out their duties in their absence.
There shall only ever be one Bureau Director or Regional Director and one Assistant Bureau Director or Assistant Regional Director chosen for the Social Welfare Attaché positions at any given time by the Selection Committee.
No one outside of the Department’s Bureaus, Services, or Field Offices is eligible to apply for social worker positions.
Procedure
A. Methods of Hiring and Evaluation
Declaration
It takes at least three months to find a Social Welfare Attaché/social worker. To attract the best individuals, DSWD’s main office and regional branches must advertise recruitment and selection dates.
The Application Process
Human Resource Management and Development Services (HRMDS) is accepting applications from competent social workers until the application deadline.
HRMDS must also verify that all candidates have been physically evaluated and passed a physical by the DSWD HMO doctor on staff or another government-approved doctor.
The Human Resource Management and Development Service (HRMDS) will review applications and develop a list of suitable individuals who fulfill minimal standards.
The HRMDS gives the Selection Committee a matrix with all applicants who passed the initial screening.
B. Selection Committee
It is necessary to form a selection Committee to choose among qualified candidates for abroad assignments. Due to differences in rank and responsibilities, International Social Service will employ a separate selection process to find its next social welfare attaché than it uses to find its social work interns.
C. Information Gathering, Tracking, and Analysis
DSWD staff abroad must submit quarterly accomplishment reports to the Head of the Embassy/Consular Diplomatic Post. The Undersecretary of the Policy and Programs Group must receive the report (ANNEX A) each quarter (PPG).
All of the following, but not limited to, should be included in the report:
OFW Situation Analyst
Types of Cases Handled and Total Number of Clients Served
Provided Services
Case updates
Networking
Financial Reports
Concerns, Problems, and Other Challenges
Assessment
Advice for various stages of development: Embassy, DSWD, Both DSWD and DFA, Both ISSJ and DSWD
The Social Technology Bureau’s ISWSFN Project implementation team will monitor deployed social workers’ cases.
The Head of the Embassy or Consular Office and the Director of the Bureau implementing ISWSFN must use the Performance Contract to evaluate the Social Welfare Attaché or Social Work Intern.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How Many Months Is The Duration Of The Social Welfare Attaché Assignment?
The social welfare attaché assignment is for a period of one year, with the possibility of an extension for another year.
2. How Many Hours Per Week Is The Social Welfare Attaché Expected To Work?
The social welfare attaché is expected to work a minimum of 40 hours per week.
3. What Is The Social Welfare Attaché’s Salary?
The social welfare attaché’s salary is commensurate with their qualifications and experience.
4. What Are The Benefits Of Being A Social Welfare Attaché?
The social welfare attaché will receive a gratuity upon completion of their assignment, as well as medical and life insurance.
5. What Are The Qualifications For Being A Social Welfare Attaché?
The social welfare attaché must be a licensed social worker in the Philippines with at least three years of post-licensure experience. They must also have excellent communication, interpersonal, and writing skills.
Summary
The Social Welfare Attaché/social worker position is a demanding but rewarding role that helps to protect and empower some of the most vulnerable members of society. The Department of Social Welfare and Development hires and supports the top applicants.
