Three Davao City governments have joined hands to make the Safe Davao QR (SD QR) Code an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) card that senior citizens can use to withdraw their entitled cash provisions from the city government.
During the Senior Moments Program on the Davao City Disaster Radio on Friday, the Chief of the Office of the Senior Citizen Affairs (OSCA) Pastor Luis Moran said that this initiative, which is in partnership with the City Information and Technology Center (CITC) and City Social Welfare Development Office (CSWDO) is now in the finishing stage.
“Almost ok na ang supplier and the bank nalang ang naay legal nga ginahigsutan para ma plastar ang atoang SD QR card (It is almost done, the supplier and the bank are now discussing legal matters to finalize our SDQR card),” Moran said.
While they are waiting for the printing of the cards, Moran said that they have been meeting senior citizen officers to brief them and ensure the smooth implementation of the program.
“Una sila dapat makahibalo kay maglisod na sila kung asa nila kuhaon, kinsa’y mohatag, kanus-a ihatag, kinahanglan gyud nato og joint supervision for this purpose (They need to know what to do first because they may find difficulty where to claim the card, who will release it, and the date of the release. We really need joint supervision for this purpose,” he said.
Moran said that the CSWDO will revalidate the list of senior citizens since cards of the same nature will also be released for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).
“Ang CSWDO ginaplastar tanan kay duha man gud ginahimo para sa senior and PWD. Naay senior ug PWD, nagkahiusa lang mi unsaon pagplastada (The CSWDO is putting the process in order since there are two cards: for senior citizens and PWDs. There are also senior citizens who are PWDs and we are joining forces to ensure that smooth implementation),” Moran said.
He added that while this card will not simultaneously be released to senior citizens they will still print OSCA IDs so that senior citizens can still get their cash manually by presenting the OSCA ID.
Senior Citizens who have not been validated by CSWDO do not need to take a picture or conduct registration for the SD QR.
Moran said that among the cash provision that may be received through the SD QR is the annual cash incentive for senior citizens given by the local government and also the cash grant from the Department of Social Welfare and Development Office for senior citizens.
The 19th Council of Davao City approved on May 19, 2022, an amendment to Ordinance No. 0105-19, which mandates the annual granting of P1,500 financial incentives to senior citizens aged 65 years and older. The amendment or Ordinance No. 0954-22, to be known as ‘The Amended Annual Financial Assistance to All Qualified Senior Citizens Ordinance of Davao City expands the pool of senior citizen beneficiaries to include citizens aged 60 to 64 years old.
Moran said that a total of 125, 344 senior citizens – 65 years old and above have been validated and eligible to receive the Php 1,500 cash each. A budget of Php 188 million has been set aside for the cash incentive to be released from November to December 2022.
He added that CSWDO is now finalizing the list of the senior citizens 60-64 years old who will be eligible to receive a cash grant. CIO
