P3.3-B social pension released to EVisayas pensioners

Grateful senior citizens from different LGUs in the region receive their cash subsidy for the final quarter of 2024. The Social Pension Program of the government supports the development of senior citizens and advancing their health and well-being and ensuring a supportive and enabling environment for the elderly. (Photo courtesy of LGU Javier)

 

 

TACLOBAN CITY – More than P3.3 billion in social pension was released to indigent senior citizens in Eastern Visayas in 2024 by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

DSWD-Eastern Visayas regional information officer Jonalyndie Chua said that the social pension fund of P3,315,043,000 was disbursed through the Transfer of Fund (ToF) modality to the different LGUs in the region.

During the first semester of 2024, DSWD-8 released a social pension fund amounting to P1,668,082,000 in payouts to 278,149 senior citizens from the six provinces in the region.

By the third quarter of 2024, a total of P825,183,000 was released to citizens while in the fourth quarter of the same year, the social pension released amounted to P821,778,000. More than 270,000 senior citizens received their social pension during each of the quarterly disbursements.

As mandated by Republic Act 11916, also known as “An Act Increasing the Social Pension of Senior Citizens,” which lapsed into law in July 2022, indigent senior citizens are now entitled to a monthly stipend of P1,000.

Previously, the monthly stipend only amounted to P500 under Republic Act No. 9994 or the “Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010” to augment senior citizens’ daily subsistence and medical needs.

In the region, it was distributed on a semiannual basis at P6,000 per semester but changed to a quarterly basis during the second half of 2024 where senior citizens still received the amount equal to P1,000 per month.

DSWD-8 spokesperson pointed out that eligible recipients must be 60 years old and above, 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.

Meanwhile, seniors without a permanent source of income, source of financial assistance or compensation to support their basic needs are also eligible to receive the social pension. (ACR/PIA Leyte)

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