The Department of Social Welfare and Development in the Caraga Region (DSWD-13) released on Monday over PHP5.5 million worth of cash assistance to senior citizens in Buenavista town, Agusan del Norte province.

In a statement Tuesday, DSWD-13 said at least 1,494 senior citizens received their cash cards during the distribution activity.

“Each of the cards contained PHP3,600 cash under the Unconditional Cash Transfer (UCT) program of the agency,” the DSWD-13 said.

A team from the Land Bank of the Philippines helped in the activity to ensure the smooth distribution of cash cards.

“Most of the seniors served were those who have not yet received their automated teller machine (ATM) cards for their benefits through the UCT social pension,” DSWD-13 said.

The UCT program was implemented by the DSWD from 2018 to 2020 to provide cash assistance to senior citizens in the country.

Although the program had ended, the DSWD-13 clarified that the distribution continues to beneficiaries who have not yet received their UCT benefits. (PNA)