DSWD Released 6.1M Katas ng Vat for Senior Citizens in Caraga

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Caraga facilitated for the month of October a total of 2,612 senior citizens from Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte and Agusan del Sur in the continuing implementation of the government’s Katas ng Vat: Para kay Lolo at Lola Project of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

The Department has continued the one-shot provision of 500 pesos to senior citizens taken from the collection of the oil value added tax.

Implemented nationwide, the program requires that beneficiaries must be 70 years old and above, dependent or belonging to a family whose income is within or below the poverty threshold and not covered by any private or government agency retirement benefits like SSS, GSIS or PVAO.

The guideline also provides that a ratio of one beneficiary per family shall be followed.

DSWD Caraga Director Mercedita Jabagat said the Katas ng VAT: Tulong Para kay Lolo at Lola project was conceptualized to extend support in the form of a one-time cash grant to indigent senior citizens.

The Senior citizen in order to avail the program must present a valid identification card (OSCA ID, etc.) that indicates the birth date for validation purposes or a certification from the barangay captain as to the age of the senior citizen.

Last year, a total of 9,632 senior citizens received the 500 peso allocation fund.

On November 4 of this year, DSWD Caraga had an additional 2,312 senior citizen beneficiaries from Butuan City who will be receiving 500 pesos each.

The latest data of the implementation of the Katas ng VAT: Para kay Lolo at Lola released by DSWD-Caraga showed more than 6.1 million has already been released to senior citizens in different provinces and cites in the region. (with reports from Leah Quintana)