Butuan city: The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) 13, covering the Caraga Region, has announced the distribution of PHP505.3 million in pensions to eligible senior citizens under its Social Pension for Indigent Senior Citizens (SPISC) program.

According to Philippines News Agency, the DSWD-13 reported that 168,435 senior citizens in the region have been beneficiaries of the social pension during the first six months of the year. This figure represents 97.34 percent of the target beneficiaries identified through the Certificate of Eligibility process.

Breaking down the numbers, the DSWD-13 indicated that 40,345 seniors from Agusan del Norte received PHP121.04 million; 43,129 from Agusan del Sur were allocated PHP129.39 million; 33,022 from Surigao del Norte obtained PHP99.07 million; 10,673 from the Dinagat Islands collected PHP32.02 million; and 41,266 from Surigao del Sur were given PHP123.79 million.

The DSWD-13 emphasized that the Social Pension Program serves as a vital social protection initiative aimed at assisting indigent senior citizens in meeting basic needs and enhancing their quality of life. The agency encouraged eligible pensioners to stay informed about upcoming payout schedules and coordinate with their respective Local Social Welfare and Development Offices and the Offices for Senior Citizens Affairs for further updates.