Senator Bong Go, during the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) briefing on the proposed Fiscal Year 2026 national budget held recently, pressed government officials on the plight of indigent senior citizens who remain excluded from the social pension program despite existing appropriations.
Go, who was one of the co-authors of Republic Act No. 11916 which increased the monthly social pension for indigent senior citizens from P500 to P1,000, reminded the executive of the law’s intent and questioned why thousands of qualified beneficiaries are still left waiting.
The veteran legislator began by recalling the measure itself.
“We also co-authored RA 11916 to increase the social pension for indigent senior citizens from P500 to P1,000,” the seasoned lawmaker said.
The senator then emphasized that Congress had already appropriated significant funding to cover millions of seniors this year.
“For this year, P49.8B was allotted for social pension for indigent senior citizens.”
“For this year, P49.8B was allotted for social pension for indigent senior citizens. This will benefit 4 million senior citizens,” he pointed out.
Despite this allocation, Go raised an alarm over the large number of elderly Filipinos still excluded.
“However, more than 800,000 indigent senior citizens na po ang nasa waitlist na tinatawag,” he revealed.
Turning to the upcoming budget deliberations, Go questioned why their plight remained unaddressed.
“Sa proposed budget for 2026, P49.8B na naman po ang inilaan para dito. Ibig sabihin hindi naman po nakonsidera ‘yung nasa waitlist? Ba’t hindi po ito sila nasama?” he pressed.
Go closed his line of questioning by suggesting that funds might be tapped from other government programs.
“Pwede ho ba itong kunin sa ibang programa ng gobyerno, sa SAGIP o sa unprogrammed funds?”
“Pwede ho ba itong kunin sa ibang programa ng gobyerno, sa SAGIP o sa unprogrammed funds?” he asked.
In response, Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Amenah Pangandaman clarified that the agency merely followed the request submitted by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), noting that the funding reflected only what the department requested.
Go, however, underscored the urgency of the issue and conveyed the frustrations he personally receives from affected seniors.
“Salamat po. Baka mabalikan po ito, marami pang nagrereklamo na mga senior citizens, lumalapit talaga na batas na raw po ‘yan, ano ba naman ‘yang limang daan na mabigyan po ng prayoridad. Ito po ‘yung mga nasa waitlist po na mga socpen po nila,” he said.
Pangandaman reiterated that the DSWD still needed to adjust its list of beneficiaries, stressing that the allocation reflected the agency’s request.
Go, while acknowledging the explanation, emphasized that this matter cannot simply be deferred given the scale of those affected.
“Salamat,” he replied, leaving on record his concern that more than 800,000 indigent senior citizens remain unserved despite the passage of RA 11916 and despite continuous funding appropriations.
By pressing both DBM and DSWD, Go sought clarity on whether the unserved indigent seniors could be prioritized through alternative funding mechanisms.
His intervention placed a spotlight on the systemic delays that undermine the delivery of basic social support to some of the most vulnerable members of society in accordance with existing laws.
