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Beneficiaries of the Social Pension program of DSWD can now receive their stipend monthly, bimonthly, or quarterly instead of the previous per semester payout.

A beneficiary receives his stipend from an LGU personnel.

The new frequencies of payout came after Secretary Rex Gatchalian’s directive to all the field offices to follow and use the new distribution schedule to ensure that the beneficiaries receive their stipend more frequently.

In a DSWD Memorandum Circular issued on May 7 to all regional offices, the Secretary said semestral payment of social pensions is no longer allowed starting July 1.

Instead, DSWD will implement the new schedule within the second semester of 2024 and onwards.

With the new schedules, DSWD will continue to transfer the funds to the LGU, as the latter will disburse the funds to the beneficiaries using a preferred or a more feasible schedule, especially those situated in Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDA) or others in difficult circumstances.

LGUs have to cascade this new development to beneficiaries through their respective Offices of Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA), that will reach out to seniors on their preferred new schedules. Those beneficiaries who are bedridden, the Social Pension Program staff will personally deliver the stipend to their households.

Now, the DSWD Field Office – Central Visayas has entered into agreements with 130 local government units in the region to transfer the funds directly to their fiscal authority and mobilize their personnel and resources to fast-track the delivery of stipends.

According to Regional Director Shalaine Marie S. Lucero, although the semester payout that started this year was beneficial for some, introducing new schedules will be more suited to the varying needs of the senior citizens.

“We always want to ensure that our senior citizens can use their stipend in times of need. In this way, there will be more options for them to choose from instead of just a one-time payout where there are tendencies of maxing out their stipend with a one-time purchase,” she added.

A total of 299,737 senior citizens who are frail, sickly, or with disabilities, do not have regular support from their family, nor receive any pension in Central Visayas, have already received their increased stipend of PHP 1,000 in the first semester of 2024. ###

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