1 month ago
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ILOILO CITY — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) released P399.66 million in social pensions to senior citizens in Western Visayas in the first quarter of 2025.
The DSWD said the disbursed amounts, funded under the Social Pension (SocPen) program, were given to 133,220 senior citizens.
Originally launched under Republic Act 9994, also known as the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010, the SocPen program initially provided a monthly stipend of P500 to indigent senior citizens ages 60 and above who meet specific criteria.
However, in response to growing needs, Republic Act 11916, or An Act Increasing the Social Pension of Senior Citizens, was enacted in July 2022, raising the monthly stipend to P1,000.
This increase took effect in January 2024, giving each eligible pensioner P3,000 for the first quarter of the year.
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The program primarily targets frail, sickly, or disabled senior citizens who do not have pensions, permanent income sources, or financial support from relatives.
The province of Iloilo received the largest share of the funds, with P184.76 million for 61,587 beneficiaries. Iloilo City also saw substantial disbursements totaling P40.94 million for 13,647 seniors.
In neighboring provinces, Capiz received P66.92 million, benefiting 22,308 elderly residents, while Negros Occidental saw P45.95 million reach 15,318 beneficiaries.
Aklan had P33.26 million for 11,088 seniors, and Antique had P4.39 million for 1,463 recipients.
The island province of Guimaras saw P5.51 million reach 1,838 elderly residents.
The DSWD said that by March 2025, all 133,220 seniors eligible for the program had received their full quarterly payments, with a gender distribution of 52,407 male recipients and 80,814 female recipients.
