1,280 SENIOR CITIZENS IN MEXICO RECEIVE SOCIAL PENSION AID FOR FIRST QUARTER

April 7, 2026

Today, Mayor Ruding Santos Gonzales attended the payout of the Social Pension for Senior Citizens of the Department of Social Welfare and Development, a program of DSWD Region III under the leadership of Regional Director Venus F. Rebuldela. During the activity, 1,280 senior citizens from Mexico received PHP 3,000 each as assistance for the first quarter of the year.
Also present during the activity were Vice-Mayor Doc Pangan Pangan, Councilor Allaine Ramos, Municipal Administrator Engr. Nestor Pineda and representatives from DSWD, showing the united support of the local government and the national agency for the welfare of senior citizens.
In his message, Mayor Ruding expressed his heartfelt gratitude to DSWD for its continued support and concern for the senior citizens sector. He also emphasized the full support of the Local Government of Mexico, together with the Sangguniang Bayan under the leadership of Vice Mayor Pangan, in implementing programs focused on the welfare of the elderly.
The mayor also explained that while the local government wants more senior citizens to benefit from the program, the available fund remains limited. He added that the Local Government, together with the Sangguniang Bayan, is studying ways to provide additional assistance to senior citizens who are not covered by the Social Pension program, especially amid the ongoing crisis brought about by the war in the Middle East.
According to MSWDO Sharmaine Pabustan-Sigua, DSWD identifies qualified beneficiaries based on the results of the Community-Based Monitoring System conducted in 2024. She also clarified that senior citizens who are already receiving another pension from any government agency are not qualified to be included in the Social Pension program.
Despite this, Mayor Ruding reaffirmed his strong commitment not to neglect the senior citizens sector. He said that as long as he serves as mayor, he will continue to look for ways to help and support elderly Mexicano residents in recognition of their valuable contribution to the municipality.
The program was led by the Office of the Senior Citizen Affairs under the leadership of Mr. Fernando Vital and the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office headed by MSWDO Sigua. Meanwhile, the Municipal Treasurer’s Office, led by Acting Municipal Treasurer Rona Bianca Sarmiento, supervised the orderly and systematic distribution of the assistance.