Incoming DSWD chief Tulfo wants indigent seniors’ monthly pension increased to P1,500

Broadcaster Erwin Tulfo on Wednesday said he will propose to increase the social pension for indigent senior citizens from P500 to P1,500 once he assumes the post of secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) under the incoming Marcos administration.

At the Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum, Tulfo underscored that the senior citizens’ maintenance medicines and other necessities should be taken into consideration in line with his proposal to add up the indigent elderly’s monthly pension, which he stressed is not sufficient.

“I will ask my relatives in the Congress kung pupuwede, gawin na lang siguro nating P1,500 para naman mailaban-laban naman siguro ‘yung mga tao kesa sa P500 o P1,000, medyo kulang,” he said.

(I will ask my relatives in Congress if they could increase it to P1,500 so we could aid the people more instead of the P500 or P1,000 which is not enough.)

Senate Bill 2506, a measure seeking to increase the social pension for indigent senior citizens from P500 to P1,000, has recently reached the Senate plenary.

Senator Joel Villanueva said that this initiative “serves as a small token of appreciation to show how we value our elders for their immeasurable contribution to our community.”

The P500 monthly allowance was provided under Republic Act 9994 or the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010.

Further, Tulfo expressed intention to also give at least P1,000 stipend to persons with disabilities (PWDs).

“What I’m going to do siguro immediately kapag pinalad tayo, lumusot tayo sa Commission on Appointments, I will talk to my sister-in-law and my nephew and the ACT-CIS party-list to help me out siguro na humingi ng dagdag budget para sa PWDs na gawin na rin sigurong P1,000,” he added.

(What we will do immediately if we get through the CA is to talk with my sister-in-law and my nephew and the ACT-CIS party-list and ask for their help for an additional budget for the PWDs and make it P1,000.)

Erwin Tulfo’s brother, Senator-elect Raffy Tulfo, is also eyeing a 5% fixed allocation in the annual appropriations of the national and local government units for the health and support care of PWDs as well as kids and adults with special needs.

He said he is preparing for a landmark legislation that "seeks to significantly improve upon the present support system for the individuals and families in need."

DSWD Undersecretaries

Further, Erwin Tulfo revealed the names of his two colleagues whom he tapped as the new undersecretaries of the DSWD, claiming they are already adept in relief operations.

“They have been with me for the past 10 years. She was also a member of the media back then in 2010 and nakasama na namin sa mga distribution ng mga ayuda [we have worked together in providing aid], especially in pandemic, that’s Sally Navarro,” he said.

“I have Jericho Javier as my Undersecretary for Operations. He’s been with me, we’ve been covering a lot of calamities. Nakita niya rin ‘yung mga distribution natin during the pandemic [he has also seen our distribution during the pandemic],” he added.

Tulfo previously said he will tap social workers and experts as advisers to guide him on how to properly run the agency and help address other pressing issues involving teenage pregnancy and universal healthcare law.

He also called on the public, particularly his critics, to judge him based on his performance as DSWD chief after six months. He said he may let somebody else lead the DSWD if he does not do a good job within this timeframe. — RSJ, GMA News