DSWD Bicol to release TRAIN cash aid for poor seniors

• Source: http://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1006785
• Wednesday, April 18, 2018

By Sally Atento-Altea (SAA/DSWD5/PIA5/Albay)

LEGAZPI CITY (PIA) -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will soon be releasing additional cash aids to poor senior citizens in the Bicol region.

According to DSWD Bicol Regional Director Arnel Garcia about 195,107 poor senior citizens under DSWD's Social Pension Program in the region will be receiving the added assistance as part of the new Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law.

Under the TRAIN is the Unconditional Cash Transfer (UCT) Program which aims to assist poor households and individuals who may be affected by the increase in taxes fo some commodities.

"The TRAIN is the first package of the comprehensive tax reform program (CTRP) envisioned by President Duterte’s administration, which aims to correct a number of deficiencies in the tax system to make it simpler, fairer, and more efficient," Garcia said.

"The UCT on the other hand is a social welfare program under the TRAIN Law which seeks to provide cash grants to poor households and individuals who may benefit from the lower income tax rates but may be adversely affected by the increase on taxes on fuel, automobiles, and sugar products," he added.

Pantawid Pamilya Pilipino Program (4Ps) households and poor households identified by the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction (NHTS-PR) or the Listahanan are also eligible beneficiaries of the UCT program.

Moreover, a social pension beneficiary shall be entitled to a separate UCT grant.

"A social pension beneficiary shall be entitled to a separate UCT grant even if he or she belongs to a 4Ps household or Listahanan identified poor household," Garcia said.

Garcia cited that the UCT cash grant amounting to Php 2,400 in a year or Php 200 per month will be given one-time to the identified beneficiaries. This grant will increase in 2019-2020 to Php 3,600 or Php 300 per month.

The DSWD will release the cash grants by July - Augist this year.

The Social Pension Program is the government’s assistance to poor senior citizens aging 60 years old and above who are frail, sick or with a disability, with no regular income or support from families and relatives, and without a pension from private or government institutions.

Under the program, poor seniors are entitled to a monthly P500 cash grant to supplement their daily subsistence, including their medical needs.

The program has been established through Republic Act 9994 or the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010 which aims to improve the living condition of indigent senior citizens and to protect them from neglect and deprivation.