Legazpi City– Based on the July 2011 data from Listahanan or the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction (NHTS-PR) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office 5, it reveals that there are about 103,362 indigent senior citizens region wide.

In Bicol, they are mostly found in the areas of Camarines Sur which comes in the first rank with a total of 27,677 senior citizens; followed by Masbate with 23,290 and Albay with 20,393.

In compliance to Republic Act 9994 or the Expanded Senior Citizen Act of 2010, Indigent Senior Citizens ages 77 years old & above can receive a grant under the social pension program implemented by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

The program provides each pensioner a financial assistance for food expenses and medical needs. They receive P500.00 per month or P1, 500.00 quarterly.

The program strongly advocates for those indigent senior citizens who do not receive regular support from relatives or any financial institution.

As of date, a total of 24, 762 social pensioners were served by DSWD Field Office V. In 2015, the department targets an additional 28,042 poor seniors to benefit the pension.
Moreover, Proclamation No. 470 issued by former Fidel V. Ramos declared the first week of October as Elderly Filipino Week which highlights the important role of older person in nation building ###crbarrameda