The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) 13 (Caraga Region) reported the release of PHP505.3 million in stipends for indigent senior citizens under its Social Pension for Indigent Senior Citizens (SPISC) program.

In a statement on Thursday, the DSWD-13 said 168,435 qualified senior citizens in the region have received their social pension during the first half of the year, representing 97.34 percent of target beneficiaries generated through the Certificate of Eligibility.

Of the total number of beneficiaries, 40,345 were from Agusan del Norte, receiving PHP121.04 million; 43,129 from Agusan del Sur, with PHP129.39 million; 33,022 from Surigao del Norte, with PHP99.07 million; 10,673 from Dinagat Islands, with PHP32.02 million; and 41,266 from Surigao del Sur, with PHP123.79 million.

“The Social Pension Program is one of the agency’s key social protection initiatives that helps indigent senior citizens meet their basic needs and improve their quality of life,” the DSWD-13 said.

The agency encouraged all qualified beneficiaries to coordinate with their respective Local Social Welfare and Development Offices and the Offices for Senior Citizens Affairs for updates on payout schedules for the next quarter. (PNA)