The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has released over P399 million in social pension to indigent senior citizens in Western Visayas during the first quarter of 2025, providing essential support to more than 133,000 elderly beneficiaries in the region.
Under the Social Pension (SocPen) Program, 133,220 senior citizens aged 60 and above received a quarterly stipend of P3,000. This follows the increase in the monthly payout from P500 to P1,000, as mandated by Republic Act 11916, which took effect in January 2024.
The total disbursement of P399,660,000 was completed as of March 2025. Iloilo province recorded the highest number of beneficiaries at 61,587, receiving P184,761,000. Capiz followed with 22,308 beneficiaries and P66,924,000 disbursed. Negros Occidental had 15,318 recipients with P45,954,000, while Iloilo City assisted 13,647 elderly with P40,941,000.
Other provinces included Aklan with 11,088 beneficiaries receiving P33,264,000; Bacolod City with 5,972 recipients and P17,916,000; Guimaras with 1,838 seniors getting P5,514,000; and Antique with 1,463 beneficiaries receiving P4,389,000.
Of the total recipients, 52,407 were male and 80,814 were female. All were classified as indigent, meaning they had no permanent income or pension and received minimal or no support from family. The Social Pension Program, created under Republic Act No. 9994 or the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010, seeks to ensure the dignity and well-being of senior citizens in their later years.
