CEBU, Philippines — The Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office 7 (DSWD-7) conducted program implementation reviews (PIRs) in Cebu and Bohol this month to improve the delivery of social pension assistance to indigent senior citizens.
The Social Pension for Indigent Senior Citizens Program (SPISC) held a three-day PIR for Cebu Province from September 8 to 10 at a hotel in Cebu City and a two-day review for Bohol Province on September 15 and 16 at a resort in Bohol.
The reviews brought together DSWD personnel, local government units (LGUs), and partner agencies to assess program implementation, address operational concerns, and identify measures to improve the distribution of assistance.
DSWD-7 Assistant Regional Director for Operations (ARDO) Jiah Sayson, who welcomed participants during the Cebu review, emphasized the importance of coordination and collaboration in ensuring effective services for senior citizens.
Representatives from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) also provided updates on Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) registration and the Community-Based Monitoring System (CBMS).
National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC) representative Juvelyn Gumisad discussed updates on the implementation of the Expanded Centenarians Act and NCSC programs.
Meanwhile, Jabbar Magallanes and Sitti Moslem of the DSWD Central Office-Protective Services Bureau (PSB) presented the newly issued guidelines for the Social Pension Program.
The Cebu review also featured a Kapihan session where participants raised implementation concerns and shared field experiences with the resource speakers.
On the second day, DSWD Provincial Development Officer II Jennifer Cañete presented the program’s accomplishments for calendar year 2025 and the first half of 2026.
LGUs and program implementers also participated in the HAPSAY (Harmonized Actions and Processes for Swift, Accountable Yield) Process Improvement Workshop, which examined the entire social pension cycle, from pre-payout preparations to liquidation.
The workshop allowed participants to identify process gaps and share localized practices and recommendations to improve program implementation.
The Cebu PIR concluded with DSWD-7 reiterating the importance of accountability and effective implementation of the social pension program.
In Bohol, the review similarly focused on improving the program's implementation at the local level.
The Bohol review also included a Kapihan sa Social Pension open forum and a reflection on the program’s 2025 accomplishments.
The activity concluded with the signing of the DSWD HAPSAY sa Social Pension Pledge of Commitment and an awarding ceremony recognizing LGUs for their partnership.
DSWD-7 said the reviews are part of its ongoing efforts to strengthen coordination with LGUs and other partners and improve frontline processes under its HAPSAY initiative.
The initiative is also aligned with standards promoted by the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA), particularly in improving government processes and making services more responsive to beneficiaries. — /MRM (FREEMAN)