A total of 1,339 indigent senior citizens from 23 barangays of E. B. Magalona town received a cash assistance of P4,600 each under the Unconditional Cash Transfer (UCT) – Social Pension Program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
The Municipal Social Welfare and Development (MSWD) distributed the cash cards to beneficiaries in two payouts—Thursday in Barangay Tabigue covered court and yesterday at the Public Plaza.
The cash assistance totaled to P6.1 million.
The UCT Program is the biggest tax reform mitigation program under the TRAIN Law. It seeks to provide cash grants to poor households and individuals who may not benefit from the lower income tax rates but may be adversely affected by rising prices.
The amount of P4,600 covers the social pension for three years, or 2019, 2020, and 2021, according to Jiffen Batislaon, social welfare assistant of DSWD-6 assigned to E. B. Magalona, and the focal person for the SocPen Program.
MSWD social welfare officer Emy Lyn Hibionada, also the town’s focal person for the SocPen program, said DSWD has partnered with Landbank of the Philippines (LBP) for the distribution of assistance through the bank’s cash cards.
The distribution ceremonies were facilitated by MSWD personnel and LBP- Victorias Branch personnel, led by the bank’s department manager, Rosie Cuadernal.*
