SAMAL, Bataan — Senior citizens in this fast-growing agricultural town for the first time on Friday received cash gift for their birthday from the local government.
Jaina Honra of the municipal social welfare and development office said that 322 senior citizens from Samal with birthdays within the month of January each received P500 in cash
“Nagsimula po ito sa ilalim ng administration ni Mayor Alexander Acuzar na ang pondo ay galing sa Senior Citizen’s Fund ng munisipyo,” Honra said.
Nerissa David, 63, said she was thankful for the cash gift that she received for the first time from the municipal government.
Honra said that the Samal LGU also distributes social pension of P500 every three months to each senior citizen.
In a telephone call, MSWDO chief Mercy Cuenca confirmed that the cash gift of P500 for each birthday celebrant for the month of January was implemented for the first time by the municipal government under Mayor Acuzar.
The giving of cash gift to senior citizens aged 60 years and above registered with the Office of Senior Citizens, she said, will go on every month of the year.
Cuenca said that records showed that there are 3,320 senior citizens in Samal. She said that the past municipal administration handed out cakes not cash.
The MSWDO head said that aside from the birthday gift and the social pension, the Samal LGU also gives P10,000 in cash to those aged 90 years and P50,000 to centenarians.
