Candelaria Cruzat is a 79 year old senior citizen-resident of Brgy San Pedro, Tingloy, Batangas.  She is one of the 33 beneficiaries of the Social Pension Program in the island municipality, approximately 30 minutes away the mainland of Batangas.

For Candelaria, the Php500 monthly assistance she receives from the Department of Social Welfare and Development under the said program helps improve her situation as she is able to buy food and household wares for herself and her husband.  They often experience difficulty buying these as the income they earn from selling vegetables she plants and the fish her husband catches are not enough to meet their needs.  Also, her husband seldom catches fish now because of his age.

“Palagi akong kinakabahan kapag pumapalaot ang mister ko. Mahina na rin kasi ang katawan niya dahil sa katandaan,” Candelaria added.

Candelaria is grateful for cash assistance she receives considering that their five children are all living in the city (Batangas) with their own families.

“Malaking tulong na ang maliit na halagang iyon para sa aming mag-asawa. Dahil sa tulong na natatanggap namin, nararamdaman namin na may sumusuporta pa pala sa mga matatandang gaya naming.  Pakiramdam ko nga’y ito ang nagpapahaba ng buhay namin,” Candelaria said. with reports from CMSantiago***