Elderly to enjoy free train rides this weekend, Oct. 4 and 5

Philippine National Railway. Photo courtesy of PNR Facebook page.

MANILA — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said Friday that its request for free rides at the Philippine National Railways (PNR) among the elderly in line with the annual celebration of the Elderly Filipino Week was granted.

DSWD Secretary Dinky Soliman said that in a response to their request, the Department of Transportation and Communication expressed support to the celebration by granting free rides to Senior Citizens from 7:00 to 9:00 in the morning and again from 3:00 to 5:00 in the afternoon on Saturday, October 4 and Sunday, October 5, 2014.

Soliman said that all senior citizens who will avail of the said privilege will just have to present their identification cards issued by the Office of Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) in the local government unit to the personnel of DOTC operations department when required.

Elderly Filipino week is celebrated every first week of October to highlight the elders’ contribution to the society and to promote their welfare.

As part of the DSWD’s commitment to serve them, a P500.00 monthly social pension is provided for the sick, frail and indigent citizenS who are not receiving any pension from Social Security System, Government Service Insurance System and other insurances.

The pension is given to senior citizens who are 77 years old and above.

In its desire to serve more indigent seniors the DSWD recently sought a budget increase to lower the age of seniors who should receive the pension at 67 years old for 2015.