Iloilo City, Philippines — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) successfully distributed P4.59 billion in social pension funds to senior citizens in Western Visayas from January 1 to November 28 this year.
According to Marien Grace Tamonan, a social welfare officer for the DSWD Western Visayas Social Pension Program, this amount accounts for 99.12 percent of the total allocation target for the year.
The program, with a 2024 budget of P4.63 billion, aims to assist approximately 386,000 indigent senior citizens in the region.
The initiative seeks to provide financial support to seniors age 60 and above who are frail, sick, or disabled, without regular income or family assistance, and not receiving any form of private or government pension.
Tamonan confirmed the distribution of fourth-quarter stipends is ongoing, with more than 13,600 unpaid beneficiaries currently being processed.
The stipend was increased in January 2024, doubling from P500 to P1,000 per month to better support seniors’ daily expenses and medical needs.
