The Department of Social Welfare and Development-Caraga (DSWD-13) released the third quarter social pension to 5,162 qualified senior citizens in Bislig City in a payout that ran from August 18 to 20, 2026. Each beneficiary received ₱3,000, bringing the total released in the city to roughly ₱15.5 million.

What was released and why

The amount covers three months of the social pension at the current rate of ₱1,000 per month, per beneficiary. That rate has been in effect since January 2024, when Republic Act No. 11916 doubled the monthly stipend from its previous ₱500. Because the program pays out in lump sums rather than monthly, each round covers a full quarter at once, which is why the per-person figure lands at ₱3,000 rather than a smaller monthly amount.

Stephane Joy Flores, information officer for DSWD-13's social pension program, confirmed the third-quarter coverage and per-beneficiary amount to the Philippine News Agency. The local rollout was coordinated with Bislig City's Office of Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) and City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), which handle the on-the-ground logistics of getting beneficiaries verified and paid across the city's barangays.

A program that keeps growing

Bislig's beneficiary count has shifted from round to round over the past few years, reflecting both natural attrition (as beneficiaries pass away or their circumstances change) and continued enrollment of newly qualified seniors. The number nationwide is also set to grow further: DSWD's 2026 General Appropriations Act allocation of ₱51.8 billion for the Social Pension program is meant to accommodate roughly 171,000 additional wait-listed seniors nationwide, with priority given to the oldest applicants still waiting for a slot. Some of that expansion is expected to reach Bislig's own waitlist in future quarters, though DSWD has not published a city-specific number yet.

Who qualifies and how to check

To qualify for the Social Pension Program for Indigent Senior Citizens, a person generally needs to be:

  • A Filipino citizen who has lived in Bislig City for at least six months
  • At least 60 years old, with the national program prioritizing those 65 and older
  • Not currently receiving a pension from SSS, GSIS, or another retirement fund
  • Certified as indigent by the local social welfare office

Seniors who believe they qualify but have not yet been enrolled, or existing beneficiaries who missed this month's payout schedule in their barangay, should follow up directly at the OSCA office in Bislig City Hall with a valid ID and proof of residency. Given how large the current waitlist is nationwide, it is worth checking sooner rather than later rather than assuming a slot will open automatically.

Bislig Today will continue to report on future payout rounds, including any changes to the local beneficiary count once the expanded 2026 enrollment reaches the city.