As the number of indigent senior citizens being denied their social pension continue to rise, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go called on his colleagues in Congress to increase the proposed 2025 allocation for the program.

It was reported that from 466,000 at the start of 2024, the number of indigent senior citizens in the waiting list of social pension recipients has ballooned to 622,000 as the fourth quarter draws to a close.

In his remarks during the Senate finance committee deliberations on the proposed budget of the Department of Social Welfare and Development on Monday (September 17), Go lamented the apparent financial issue affecting the social pension program.

The Davao City solon authored Republic Act No. 11916 or the Social Pension for Indigent Senior Citizens (SocPen) providing for a P1,000 monthly social pension for senior citizens confronted with dire financial problems.

The proposed 2025 budget for Socpen stood at P49.8 billion, which is the same amount Congress granted for the current year.

The allocation is not expected to cover all qualified senior citizens, with 622,000 of them still awaiting for their share of P1,000 per month.

Go stressed that it is imperative for Congress to take off the indigent seniors from the waiting list.

He pointed out that a P5.8 billion in unprogrammed appropriations should go to the waitlisted seniors.