Zamboanga: Mayor Khymer Olaso has mandated a more stringent verification process for beneficiaries of the city's social pension program for senior citizens, aiming to ensure that financial aid is allocated solely to legitimate residents.

According to Philippines News Agency, this decision follows the mayor's revelations of a suspicious rise in the number of senior pensioners over the past three years. Olaso emphasized the necessity of establishing clear and straightforward criteria for senior citizens wishing to be included on the beneficiary list, especially concerning the verification of their residency and eligibility documentation.

During a City Hall interview, Olaso stated, "We have to be very specific about senior citizens because it's a big city. There are those who register but are not residents of this city." The city comprises 98 barangays spread across two legislative districts, highlighting the complexity of the issue.

One method proposed by Olaso to verify a beneficiary's eligibility involves checking voter registration in the city, which could serve as evidence of legitimate residency. Additionally, the ability to communicate in the local vernacular, Chavacano, may further substantiate a beneficiary's residency status.

The mayor indicated that individuals unable to provide adequate proof of eligibility risk removal from the beneficiary list, as the city endeavors to thwart individuals from other regions exploiting the program. An alarming discovery revealed that 40 percent of senior citizens in one barangay are not actual city residents. Furthermore, the number of senior citizens escalated dramatically from 18,000 to 80,000 within three years.

The city has allocated approximately PHP350 million for the social pension program, with expectations for additional funding in the coming year. Currently, the local government offers a PHP4,000 annual social pension, disbursed at PHP1,000 per quarter, to each qualified senior citizen. Additional incentives include a one-time cash bonus ranging from PHP5,000 to PHP25,000 for septuagenarians, octogenarians, nonagenarians, and centenarians. Moreover, senior citizens receive an annual birthday cash gift between PHP500 and PHP2,000, depending on age.