More than 4 million indigent senior citizens across the country are receiving support for their health and daily needs through the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Social Pension for Indigent Senior Citizens (SPISC) program, an agency official said on Wednesday (July 16).
Asst. Secretary Irene Dumlao, the DSWD’s spokesperson, said the program has reached a total of 4,085,066 indigent senior citizens, providing them with monthly financial aid that helps ease the burden of medical and living expenses.
“Mas mataas na ang natatanggap na pensyon ng ating mga lolo at lola dahil alam naming ito ay direktang napupunta sa pambili ng gamot at pagkain. Isa ito sa mga hakbang ng DSWD para mapangalagaan ang kalusugan at kapakanan ng ating mga indigent senior citizens,” Asst. Secretary Dumlao said.
The SPISC is granted to Filipinos aged 60 and above who are frail, sickly, or with disability, and who have no regular income, pension, or financial support from their family.
Under Republic Act No. 11916, the monthly pension was increased from Php500 to Php1,000 beginning January 2024, reflecting the government’s commitment to help seniors cope with costs of medicine and food.
To make the aid more accessible and timely, the DSWD shifted from the previous semi-annual release of pension to a monthly, bi-monthly, or quarterly payout starting July 2024.
Cash cards are also now being used for digital disbursement in selected areas to make the release of funds more efficient and convenient for the elderly.
“Layunin ng DSWD na hindi mahirapan ang mga senior citizens sa pagkuha ng kanilang benepisyo. Kaya unti-unti na tayong lumilipat sa digital disbursement,” the DSWD spokesperson pointed out.
For 71-year-old Merlinda Tudlasan from Island Garden City of Samal in Davao del Norte, the Php3,000 social pension she received for the second quarter of 2025 from the DSWD’s SPISC is a big help in her day-to-day life.
“Dako kaayo ning tabang kay naa nakoy pangpalit ug tambal sakong maintenance ug naa nasad koy pangpalit ug sud-an. Daghang Salamat sa Social Pension Program ni DSWD sa Php3,000 nga ayuda ug sa pagtagad sa nanginahanglan nga mga senior citizens sama nako,” Merlinda said.
(This is a big help because I now have money to buy maintenance medicine and to buy food. Thank you very much to the DSWD’s Social Pension Program, for the Php3,000 aid
and for giving attention to needy senior citizens like me.)
As the program continues to expand and improve, the DSWD remains committed to ensuring that no senior citizen is left behind, especially when it comes to their health and well-being, in adherence to the directives of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. (YADP)