As of to date, DSWD has released more than Php500 M in Social Pension funds to some 108, 774 social pensioners in Region VIII, while 4, 831 social pensioners from seven municipalities of Northern Samar, Biliran, Southern Leyte, Samar, and Eastern Samar provinces will get their stipend this week. This will sum up to a total of Php 675,630,000.00 of Social Pension funds already distributed, to 112, 605 eligible senior citizens.
Regional Director Marie Angela Gopalan of the DSWD Field Office VIII said payouts will continue while, on the other hand, there is ongoing cross-matching of pensioners to find out if they are not in the list of government and private insurance agencies. The purpose is to ensure that only the rightful beneficiaries will be included in the program.