SEN. Christopher “Bong” Go has raised concern over the implementation of a law that doubled the monthly pension of indigent senior citizens from P500 to P1,000.

The senator aired his worries during the Senate plenary debate on the proposed 2024 budget of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on November 16.

Go, one of the co-authors of Republic Act 11916, asked Sen. Maria Josefa Imelda “Imee” Marcos, who sponsored the DSWD budget, about the number of beneficiaries of the law.

He noted the increasing number of senior citizens waiting for their social pension. Marcos said the number of senior citizens who have yet to receive their pension benefits rose from 228,000 to 466,000. “It ballooned; it increased as time passed,” she said.

Go wanted to know if the DSWD has enough funds “to cater to the needs of indigent senior citizens next year since the pension has been doubled.” Marcos said the budget for RA 11916 implementation in 2024 has been increasing to about P50 billion.

She admitted that the backlog in pension payments grew as the number of elderly waiting for their pensions has also increased.

“Yes, there are many [elderly] on the waiting list. That’s why the [pension payment] backlog could be P5 billion,” she said.

Go voiced concern about the DSWD’s financial capacity to handle the number of waitlisted senior citizens. He also reiterated his appeal to the DSWD not to be selective in helping the poor.

“I remind the DSWD that they stand as a beacon of hope for countless Filipinos, providing a lifeline for those facing adversity, poverty and various life challenges,” the senator said.

Go co-authored Senate Bill 2028, which provides additional support to senior citizens ages 80 and 90, amending the Centenarian Act of 2016.

“It is in our Filipino culture to care for our elderly,” he said.