Over 194K indigent seniors in CV receive P582 million in Q2 aid

CEBU, Philippines — The Department of Social Welfare and Development in Central Visayas (DSWD-7) has released a total of P582.95 million in second-quarter 2026 social pension benefits to 194,317 indigent senior citizens across the region.

The payout under the Social Pension Program for Indigent Senior Citizens (SocPen) was carried out through local government units (LGUs), with DSWD-7 augmenting the release to ensure beneficiaries received their quarterly stipends.

Of the total beneficiaries, 91,981 are from Bohol, while 102,336 are from Cebu Province, including the highly urbanized cities of Cebu, Mandaue, and Lapu-Lapu.

DSWD-7 said additional beneficiaries were enrolled in the program between the first and second quarters of 2026 following the implementation of an updated targeting process based on the Community-Based Monitoring System (CBMS) of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

To ensure the accuracy of beneficiary records, personnel from PSA-7 and DSWD-7 worked together to validate senior citizens whose records were flagged with discrepancies, cross-checking information before the release of the assistance.

The department also adopted the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) National ID as the primary identification requirement during payouts and encouraged beneficiaries who have yet to register to complete their digital ID enrollment.

DSWD-7 added that the payout was carried out under its Harmonized Actions and Processes for Swift, Accountable Yield (HAPSAY) initiative, which seeks to make the distribution process more orderly, efficient, and senior-friendly.

The agency said organized queuing, priority lanes for beneficiaries requiring physical assistance, and the deployment of additional personnel were implemented at payout sites to speed up verification and disbursement while ensuring the comfort and dignity of elderly recipients.

DSWD-7 reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening inclusive social protection by ensuring that indigent senior citizens across Central Visayas, regardless of their location or ethnicity, continue to receive the financial assistance they are entitled to.