Senior Citizens Party-list Representative Rodolfo “Ompong” Ordanes appeals to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) through President Rodrigo Duterte to immediately release the July to December 2020 social pension of indigent seniors.

Pensioners are set to receive a total of P3,000 for the 6-month period. According to Ordanes, the amount can assist them in their survival needs.

Ordanes then pointed out that the modes the DSWD uses cause technical difficulties, which slows down the process.

Another factor is the lack of e-payment services in remote and secluded communities. Door-to-door or face-to-face delivery modes can be conducted, however, it could risk the lives of the recipients if health and safety measures against COVID-19 are improperly observed.

With the holidays fast-approaching, Ordanes believes that the indigent seniors are in desperate need of the pension considering the “calamity-ridden” year they endured.

“I am puzzled as to why the release of the social pension is taking so long. I appeal to the DSWD, the banks, and the e-payments firms to please not worsen the suffering of the seniors,” the congressman said.

“Pamasko na ninyo sana yan sa mga abang lolo at lola. Sana nga’y madagdagan pa ng mga gobernador at mayor mula sa local funds nila,” Ordanes added.

Last month, pension-fund Social Security System announced that it will divide the December and 13th month distribution into two. The first batch was on December 1 while the second will be on December 16.