By Alma L. Tingcang
DUMALINAO, Zamboanga del Sur – It pays to submit reports on time.
This town has recently been awarded a Certificate of Recognition for its prompt and regular submission of reportorial requirements for the Social Pension Program Implementation for calendar years 2013-2014.
Municipal Social Welfare and Development
Officer Lolita F. Jakosalem received the said award from the Department of
Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-9 Regional Director Zenaida L. Arevalo at
the Grand Astoria Hotel in Zamboanga City.
“We have 226 senior citizens in our town
and 36 new members under the National Household Targeting System for Poverty
Reduction (NHTS-PR), said Ms. Jakosalem.
Mayor Ace William E. Cerilles said the beneficiaries
receive P500 pension every month which is released every quarter. “Regular monitoring
and follow-up aside from personally handing over the checks to recipients are
being done to ensure that they receive their benefits.”
“Our senior citizens are still very productive
members of the community,” the mayor
pronounced, as he is very supportive of their endeavors led by the federation
president, Ms. Rita Chavez.
Mr. Alberto Embudo, focal person for
senior citizens and manpower development assistant patiently delivers the
pension of every senior citizen. If they
are not around, it is delivered through the barangay captain.
“I see to it that the payroll and other
needed documents are sent back immediately to the regional office without delay.
Maybe that was our edge,” explained Jakosalem.
In another development, four wheelchairs given by Vice President Jejomar “Jojo” C. Binay during his recent visit in town were turned-over to identified recipients upon the recommendation of the MSWDO. They were Josephine Mann, Riza Belen, Silvina Apoya and Genaro Aguilar.