TACLOBAN CITY — More than 67,000 indigent senior citizens across Eastern Visayas have received their first-quarter social pension for 2026, as the government continues its support for vulnerable elderly residents in the region.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) office in the region, in coordination with 36 local government units (LGUs), distributed P3,000 each to beneficiaries of the Social Pension Program for Indigent Senior Citizens, covering January to March 2026.
A total of 67,577 senior citizens across the region benefited from the payout, with a total disbursement reaching P202.7 million, according to the agency.
The largest share of beneficiaries came from Leyte with 24,858 recipients, followed by 18,696 in Samar and 11,142 in Southern Leyte. In the smaller island provinces, Biliran recorded 4,726 beneficiaries, Eastern Samar had 4,788, while Northern Samar accounted for 3,367 recipients.
The agency, meanwhile, reminded LGUs to promptly submit liquidation reports to ensure the smooth processing of succeeding fund releases.
The Social Pension Program provides a monthly stipend of P1,000, released on a quarterly basis, to indigent senior citizens aged 60 and above who are frail, sickly, or living with disabilities, and who have no regular income, pension, or financial support from family members.
Last year, DSWD- 8 reported a total disbursement of P854 million to more than 284,000 beneficiaries across all 143 LGUs in Eastern Visayas.
Officials said the program remains a critical intervention to help elderly Filipinos meet basic daily needs amid rising living costs.
(JOEY A. GABIETA)
