Pangasinan: A total of 4,999 indigent elderly in this town received PHP3,000 each on Wednesday under the national government's social pension program.

According to Philippines News Agency, Baby Soriano, head of the Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs, stated that the amount is received quarterly by the elderly, which they use to purchase some, if not most, of their basic needs. "This is a big help to them. Since the elderly have needs like maintenance medicines and food," she said.

The Social Pension Program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development provides a monthly stipend of PHP1,000, distributed quarterly, to qualified beneficiaries. Soriano mentioned that the distributed amount is for the third quarter of this year. "We thank President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for all the programs and projects for the elderly," he said.

Remedios Abalos, a 66-year-old beneficiary, shared her plans to use the amount to purchase rice and medicine for her hypertension.