Senator Christopher “Bong” Go has called on the government to immediately allocate more funds for indigent senior citizens still on the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) waitlist, stressing that many elderly Filipinos are being denied the social pension already guaranteed to them by law.
During the DSWD budget hearing on September 24, Go said he continues to receive appeals from senior citizens who remain excluded from the program despite their eligibility.
“Kanina natanong po ‘yung about social pension sa mga senior citizens. Ang dami kasing lumalapit sa akin na mga seniors, nagtataka sila bakit hindi pa raw nila natatanggap yung kanilang mga social pension. Kaya ipinapasa ko talaga ito sa inyo dahil maaaring nandoon sila sa wait-listed na listahan,” Go said.
The senator reminded that the monthly pension is mandated under Republic Act 9994 or the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010. He also co-authored Republic Act 11916, which raised the pension by amending RA 7432.
Go revealed that he had already raised the issue with the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) but learned that no formal request for more funds had been filed by the DSWD. “At natanong ko rin po ito sa DBCC kay Sec. Pangandaman. Nasagot doon na hindi pa raw nagre-request ng additional budget for social pension ang DSWD. Meron na ba?” he asked.
DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian responded that the agency had earlier sought an additional ₱8 billion to cover some 800,000 waitlisted seniors, but the request was not granted. He admitted the backlog has since grown to around one million.
“So ibig sabihin hindi nadagdagan, mananatili silang waitlisted,” Go warned, stressing that the government must clearly explain the situation to affected seniors. He noted that a ₱8 to ₱12 billion realignment could ensure the pensions reach those in need.
Citing Senator Loren Legarda’s earlier remarks, Go suggested that funds from less urgent projects, such as questionable flood control allocations, could instead be redirected. “Matatanda na po yon, magamit man lang nila pambili ng pagkain at medisina,” he said.
While reaffirming his support for the DSWD, Go emphasized that its mandate is to prioritize the poor and vulnerable, and that benefits must be distributed fairly and without politics.
“’Yung mahihirap talaga, sila po ang dapat makinabang dito sa iba’t ibang programa ng DSWD. … Walang pili yan, kung sino ang nangangailangan, dapat makakatanggap ng ayuda. Walang halong pulitika,” he said.
He ended by urging faster public service delivery, reminding that the funds belong to the people. “’Wag na nating pahirapan ang ating mga kababayan. Unang-una, pera naman po ng taumbayan yan dapat po’y ibalik sa kanila sa mabilis na paraan,” he said.
