In line with the easing of quarantine restrictions, the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases has ordered pension-issuing agencies and their servicing banks to adopt alternative modes of validation for senior citizen pensioners so they do not have to make personal appearances anymore.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque announced over State-run PTV-4 that this recent order of the IATF will take effect on March 1.
The IATF made this decision, after almost a year of lockdown, considering the welfare of senior citizens amid the COVID- 19 pandemic, Roque said.
At present, senior citizens make personal appearances or submit documents before a notary public in order to have continuous access to their pensions.
“Alam naman natin na tayo ngayon ay nasa gitna ng pandemiya at ang mga seniors ay isa sa high-risk and vulnerable to COVID-19,” he said.
“Para matiyak ang kanilang kalusugan at kaligtasan, inaprubahan ng resolusyon na ito na hindi na sila kinakailangan na magkaroon ng personal appearance sa mga bangko at iba pang institutsyon para makuha lamang ang kanilang mga pensyon,” he added.
The IATF initially did not allow those over 60-years-old to leave their homes unless for essential trips to work and to buy necessities.
The pandemic task force eased the age restrictions from 21- to 60-years-old to 15- to 65-years-old last November. (Argyll Geducos)
