Senator Christopher Go called for immediate action to address the significant number of indigent senior citizens who are still on the waitlist for the social pension program.

“For next year, the budget for the social pension for indigent senior citizens is P49.8 billion. This reflects the increase in monthly pension from 500 to 1,000. Under Republic Act No. 11916, which I also co-authored and co-sponsored here in the Senate,” Go said during the deliberations of the Senate finance committee on the 2025 budget of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

The senator emphasized the importance of such pension, especially to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), who often inquire about their entitlements upon returning to the Philippines.

He shared a common concern voiced by elderly OFWs, saying, “Alam niyo po, Secretary Rex, ‘pag nasa abroad tayo, nakakausap natin ‘yung mga OFWs na matatanda na. Unang tanong nila: Meron ba tayong pension na mauuwian sa Pilipinas. May matatanggap ba sila?”

Despite more funding, Go raised a critical concern: the significant number of senior citizens who may be eligible for the pension but remain on the waitlist. 

Approximately 466,000 indigent senior citizens, according to him, are currently on the waitlist, and this number is expected to rise to 600,000.

The lawmaker also mentioned the P5.8 billion allotted in unprogrammed appropriations, specifically intended to address the backlog of senior citizens waiting for their pensions.

“Ano na ang status nito at napondohan na ba itong unprogrammed appropriations na P5.8 billion?”

“Pwede ba, mabigyan n’yo ito ng priority sa unprogrammed funds? Kung sakaling nakakuha kayo ng mga extra funds or collections ng national government, pwede bang mauna mabigyan po itong mga senior citizens para mabawasan ang inyong waitlist?” he asked.

Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Director Sofia Abad confirmed that the provision for the waitlisted senior citizens is included in their unprogrammed appropriations, but its implementation is subject to the availability of excess revenue collections.

Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian also confirmed that the department had already made a formal request to the DBM to fund the additional senior citizens on the waitlist. 

He, however, clarified that the department does not control the release of unprogrammed funds.IMT