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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider DSWD says 171,000 more elderly to receive social pension this year

DSWD says 171,000 more elderly to receive social pension this year

Published Jan 31, 2026 01:24 pm
To reach the most vulnerable, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said it will expand its Social Pension (SocPen) Program this year to cover around 171,000 additional elderly on the waitlist.
DSWD Undersecretary for Policy and Planning Adonis Sulit said the program will focus on the oldest seniors to make sure they are included first.
“One of the best amendments in the DSWD policy regarding social pension implementation is that the new beneficiaries will come from the oldest in the population. This means there will no longer be cases where elderly people are left out of the social pension,” Sulit said in Filipino.
The program has a P51.8-billion allocation under the 2026 General Appropriations Act, allowing the DSWD to accommodate new beneficiaries identified through the Community-Based Monitoring System (CBMS) of the Philippine Statistics Authority.
Sulit added that the allocation will also cover replacements for seniors removed from the program due to death or disqualification.
“Our target is 171,000 new beneficiaries plus replacements for those removed, either because they passed away or were found unqualified due to already having a pension, so they will be included. Basically, wherever the oldest are, that’s where our social pensioners will be,” Sulit said.
SocPen provides a monthly stipend of P1,000 to indigent Filipinos aged 60 and above who are frail, sickly, or disabled, and who have no regular income, pension, or financial support from their families.
The increase from P500 to P1,000 per month was mandated by Republic Act No. 11916, which took effect in January 2024.
Payments are released quarterly.
In 2025, around 4.1 million indigent seniors received the stipend through DSWD field offices in coordination with local governments.

Related Tags

DSWD SOCIAL PENSION INDIGENT SENIOR CITIZEN
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