DAVAO City (DSWD XI) – “We are happy to announce that this year we have more than 200 thousand targeted beneficiaries under the Social Pension for Indigent Senior Citizens Program,” said Arris P. Medrano, head of Social Pension Unit of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Davao Region.

“This figure is way higher than the previous years. In 2016, we posted 85,532 social pensioners, we had 136,067 in 2017 and last year, we covered a total of 254,526, same as this year,” Medrano said.

“Those who have been included in the payroll were subjected to eligibility assessment and validation, for us to ensure that only qualified senior citizens will benefit,” Medrano added.

DSWD XI hopes to complete the social pension payout of PHP 6000 per beneficiary not later than third quarter this year.

To date, there are 3.4 million potential beneficiaries of social pension throughout the country.

The Social Pension for Indigent Senior Citizens Program or RA 9995 addresses the clamor for social protection to the most vulnerable older persons as well as boosts the full implementation of RA 9994 or the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010.

The monthly stipend of P500 which took effect in January 2011, augments the daily subsistence and other medical needs of indigent senior citizens.

Potential recipients are senior citizens (60 years old and above) who are frail, sickly, or have disabilities; not receiving pension from Social Security System (SSS), Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO) or from the Armed Forces of the Philippines Mutual Benefit Assn.; and do not have a permanent source of income or regular support from family or relatives.

The list of potential social pensioners is based on the results of the DSWD Listahanan national assessment and per endorsement of local government units (LGUs).

Qualified senior citizens who are not included in the DSWD Listahanan data or were not endorsed by their LGUs may go to the nearest DSWD Office and request for a home visit for the conduct of eligibility assessment or on-demand application. 

Under the program, DSWD shall coordinate with LGUs through the City/Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (C/MSWDO) and conduct orientation, advocacy activities and meetings with the LGU Office of Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA), Federation of Senior Citizens Association of the Philippines (FSCAP), and barangay senior citizen associations. (DSWD)