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| After a viral social media post, the Eastern Visayas DSWD clarified issues with the Unconditional Cash Transfer (UCT) Program for señior citizens. |
TACLOBAN CITY – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Eastern Visayas has clarified reported issues with the Unconditional Cash Transfer (UCT) Program for low-income señior citizens in the region after a viral social media post.
Senior citizens were seen queuing in the heat of the sun to withdraw money or activate their ATM cards in the said post. DWSD Eastern Visayas clarified the situation:
"The agency's UCT Program for senior citizens is a short-term initiative. It is no longer accepting new participants for this program, as its only basis is the agency's 2019 data on the region's poor senior citizens," DSWD said in an advisory.
PAUNAWA hinggil sa Unconditional Cash Transfer-Senior Citizens Lubos pong nauunawaan ng ahensya ang mga naiulat na...
Posted by DSWD Eastern Visayas on Thursday, October 20, 2022
According to DSWD, in accordance with this program, the Landbank of the Philippines, in its capacity as Service Provider, produces and distributes ATM cash cards containing UCT cash grants. The receipt of an ATM cash card is PERSONAL, but señior citizens can obtain one via authorization if they are unable to receive it in person.
The agency added that "once they receive the cash cards, they must be activated as a prerequisite to withdrawing the corresponding grants. Since ATM Card activation can only be performed at LANDBANK ATM machines, there will inevitably be a line at each Landbank ATM machine."
"Activation and withdrawal are the responsibility of the cardholder, but the DSWD and City/Municipal Social Welfare Development Offices will usually be present to facilitate the process of obtaining and activating cash cards," according to DSWD.
Despite this, the agency maintains that it does not hold beneficiaries' personal will and decisions. Therefore, they can activate their card at their convenience and withdraw their full cash grants. —iTacloban