DSWD-7 updates Social Pension program registration process

CEBU, Philippines —  The Department of Social Welfare and Development-7 (DSWD-7) has adopted the Community-Based Monitoring System (CBMS) as the official targeting tool for the Social Pension Program for Indigent Senior Citizens, marking a shift in how beneficiaries are identified and validated across Region 7. Under this new system, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) generates the master list of qualified beneficiaries through the CBMS, which uses age as the primary eligibility criterion applied uniformly across all regions.

The DSWD-7 is currently focused on verifying the master list generated by the PSA to minimize external influences on the beneficiaries' selection process. A notable implication of this CBMS-based approach is that the number of newly-listed beneficiaries is no longer tied to the number of those delisted. Since eligibility is determined by age-based data from the CBMS rather than a fixed quota, the replacement of delisted seniors will depend on the actual count of qualified individuals identified in the system ensuring that inclusion is merit-based and data-driven.

In line with this, DSWD-7 staff have also begun implementing the Basta Beripikado, Mabilis ang Serbisyo online application for the National ID verification among beneficiaries. This initiative supports the government's broader thrust toward digitized, transparent, and efficient social protection delivery.

“These reforms reflect our commitment to making the Social Pension Program more transparent, targeted, and resilient against undue influence. With data-driven tools and verified beneficiary records, we can better ensure that assistance reaches those who truly deserve it," said DSWD-7 Regional Director Shalaine Marie Lucero.

The Social Pension Program provides a quarterly stipend to indigent senior citizens aged 60 and above who are not covered by any pension from the government or private sector. — (FREEMAN)