TACLOBAN CITY – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has poured PHP3.15 billion in social pension for indigent senior citizens in Eastern Visayas region in 2024.
The distribution of grants has benefited over 270,000 poor elderly people from six provinces of the region, the DSWD-Eastern Visayas regional office reported on Thursday.

Of the PHP3.15 disbursed social pension, at least PHP1.66 billion were released in the first six months of 2024, PHP813.36 million in the third quarter, and P673.59 million in the fourth quarter of the year across all local government units under the transfer of funds modality scheme.

“Under the transfer of fund modality, which has been identified as the most feasible and efficient delivery scheme for the distribution of the social pension in the region, the total allocated fund for the beneficiaries is transferred and disbursed by the local government units on a semestral basis, allowing a streamlined and cost-effective implementation of the program,” the DSWD regional office said in a statement.

Broken down to provinces, Leyte got a big share of the social pension funds last year with P1.35 billion, followed by Samar (PHP526.86 million), Northern Samar (PHP387.84 million), Southern Leyte (PHP348.37 million), Eastern Samar (PHP295.86 million), and Biliran (PHP159.02 million).

As mandated by Republic Act 11916, "An Act Increasing the Social Pension of Senior Citizens," beneficiaries of the social pension program are entitled to a monthly stipend of PHP1,000 this year. Enacted in July 2022, the law doubles the monthly pension for senior citizens from PHP500.

Eligible recipients must be 60 years old and older, frail and sickly, and without pensions from other government sources such as the Government Service Insurance System, Philippine Veterans Affairs Office, Social Security System, and private insurance companies.

Recipients also should not have a regular source of income or support from family or relatives to cover their basic needs. (PNA)