More than 21,200 senior citizens in Bacolod City and Negros Occidental received around P63.87 million in social pension in the first three month of 2025, the Department of Social Welfare and Development said April 4.
The recipients are among the 133,220 senior citizens in Region 6, who received P399,660,000 in total social pensions in the first quarter of this year, 52,407 of them males and 80,814 females.
The Social Pension Program provides crucial financial support to indigent elderly 60 years old and above, and reflects the agency’s commitment to supporting their wellbeing, and ensuring that they have the resources to live with dignity and security, the DSWD said in a statement.
Bulk of the financial support went to 61,587 beneficiaries in Iloilo province, with P184.76 million disbursed; 22,308 beneficiaries in Capiz, P66.92 million; 15,318 in Negros Occidental, P45.95 million; 13,647 in Iloilo City, P40.94 million; 11,088 in Aklan, P33.26 million; 5,972 beneficiaries in Bacolod, P17.91 million; 1,838 beneficiaries in Guimaras, P5.51 million; and 1,463 in Antique, with P4.38 million disbursed.
The SocPen program, established under Republic Act 9994, or the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010, initially offered a monthly stipend of P500, but this was increased to P1,000 effective January last year under RA 11916, or An Act Increasing the Social Pension of Senior Citizens.
The increase provides each social pensioner P3,000 per quarter, aiding them in meeting their basic needs and improving the wellbeing of their families, the DSWD said, adding that the program prioritizes frail, sickly, or disabled individuals without pensions or permanent sources of income, who do not receive financial assistance from relatives to meet their basic needs. ||
