In a statement sent to reporters Monday night, the DSWD said the incident involved a group posing as department personnel for senior citizens and persons’ with disability. The department reminded the public that senior citizens or persons with disability cards are not for sale and do not immediately guarantee the disbursement of financial assistance. According to a study by the Philippine Institute of Development Studies, many senior citizens struggle with poverty. Of the estimated 7.5 million senior citizens in the country, about 890,000, or 13.2%, belong to families classified by the government as income poor while another 400,000 or around 4.3% of them are recorded as food poor. It also called on the public to report similar incidents and scams to the Department through (028) 931-81010 to 07 or to any DSWD Field Office nationwide.

Source: Philippine Star July 13, 2021 03:22 UTC