The Social Pension for Indigent Senior Citizens (SPISC) Program of DSWD Field Office X (DSWD FO X) is now working towards completing payouts for the fourth quarter of 2024.

To date, more than 150,000 beneficiaries across the provinces of Lanao del Norte, Bukidnon, Camiguin, and Misamis Oriental have already received their monthly stipends.

Currently, payouts in Misamis Occidental are ongoing, as well as in Bukidnon for beneficiaries who were unable to claim their stipends during the scheduled payout period.

For areas utilizing the fund transfer to local government units (LGUs) delivery scheme, payouts are also in progress. A total of 13 LGUs across Northern Mindanao operate under this scheme.

Next week, the program is set to conduct payouts in Misamis Oriental and Camiguin for unpaid beneficiaries.

Earlier this year, the monthly stipend was increased to P1,000 per beneficiary, following the enactment of Republic Act No. 11915, also known as the Act Increasing the Social Pension of Indigent Senior Citizens and Appropriating Funds. This stipend was initially released on a semestral basis.

However, effective July 1, 2024, Secretary Rex Gatchalian directed all field offices to adopt a new payout schedule, allowing disbursements to be made on a monthly, bi-monthly, or quarterly basis, depending on what is most feasible. The objective is to provide beneficiaries with more frequent access to their social pensions, ensuring better financial support.

DSWD FO X adopted a quarterly payout system to address logistical constraints in geographically isolated areas and to manage administrative challenges encountered in some LGUs.

The SPISC Program provides a monthly stipend to indigent senior citizens who are frail, sickly, or living with disabilities, and who do not have a pension, a permanent source of income, or financial assistance from family members or relatives to meet their basic needs. ###